Manchester United fans have labelled the new ticketing system which left thousands stuck in queues ahead of their season opener against Arsenal, a ‘disgrace’.
Footage of supporters mere minutes before the start of their heavyweight clash on Sunday has been widely circulated on social media and attributed to a problem with the new system.
In March it was reported that the Red Devils were set to introduce a new ID verification system in a bid to clamp down on touts. A club statement explained their aim to ‘ensure a safe stadium for fans to enjoy the game in’.
However, the changes appear to have caused some major intended consequences, with scores of supporters delayed as they made entry into the ground and others forced the matches’ early exchanges.
Daily Mail Sport’s Riath Al-Samarrai wrote on X: ‘Plenty are going to miss kick off at Old Trafford. Concourses are rammed.’
Another user on the platform said: ‘The queues at Old Trafford… Surely there’s a better way of doing this.’
Manchester United fans have labelled the new ticketing system which left thousands stuck in queues ahead of their season opener against Arsenal , a ‘disgrace’
Footage of supporters mere minutes before the start of their heavyweight clash on Sunday has been widely circulated on social media and attributed to a problem with the new system
‘Man Utd ticketing is a disgrace,’ wrote a third. ‘Thousands of fans queuing at the ticketing office because the new NFC tickets are not working at the turnstiles! 10 minutes to kick off and massive queues everywhere #laughingstock.’
The Red Devils are yet to comment on the issue that affected many of their supporters.
United fans are not the only fanbase to be left cursing changes to their club’s ticketing system this term.
Chelsea fans took to social media to vent their frustrations after an issue with the club’s digital ticketing system led to fans being unable to enter Stamford Bridge ahead of their opener against Crystal Palace on Sunday.
In videos circulated widely on social media, fans could be seen stranded in large lines outside the ground prior to kick-off.
The incident provoked significant backlash on social media, with some fans taking aim at the club for the way the switch to digital ticketing had been implemented.
One supporter wrote: ‘Only Chelsea could bring in a new ticket system and f*** it up on day one.
‘Anyone not got their season ticket in the app anymore? Chelsea ticketing are such a shambles! We all knew this would happen as well’
Chelsea fans were left stranded outside Stamford Bridge prior to the club’s Premier League opener against Crystal Palace
Another agreed: ‘The Chelsea digital ticket system has crashed on the first time of using! Only away fans mainly in.
‘The queues outside are horrendous for home game. Maybe a delayed start.’
A third fan added: ‘Using pre-season games as your tests for digital tickets was never gonna work because a LOT of ST holders/members are never going to those.
‘Hopefully this is quickly resolved which I expect it will.’
The issue is understood to have emanated from the club’s newly-introduced digital ticketing system which was announced earlier this year. The digital scheme replaced all types of physical tickets for home games held at Stamford Bridge.
When announced, the club noted that fans who were unable to access their tickets using a phone would be able to request an exemption, with submissions considered on a case-by-case basis.
While the system had first been introduced during pre-season, Sunday’s Premier League opener against Palace marked the first time it has been in use for a major fixture.
In spite of the issues at Old Trafford, many supporters were still able to welcome Ruben Amorim’s side as they took the pitch against the Gunners. They would have been delighted by the energic start made by the squad.
Unfortunately for the home faithful, their plucky first-half effort proved to be in vain as Mikel Arteta’s squad headed into the break with a lead thanks to Riccardo Calafiori’s 13th-minute header.
