Manchester United supporters have urged the club to pause a clampdown on ticket touts that they claim is targeting innocent fans.
Since United launched the operation last week, thousands of fans have received emails warning that their accounts have been restricted and their season tickets could be revoked.
On Tuesday night, a number of fan groups – including The ’58, Manchester United Supporters’ Trust and The Red Army – joined forces to issue a statement calling on the club to stop its ‘ban first and ask questions later’ approach.
While the groups insist they support United’s campaign against the touts, there is a concern that genuine fans are being caught in the net. They have backed a letter sent to United by the Fans’ Forum last week calling for the crackdown to be suspended.
The statement read: ‘Professional touting, automated purchasing and those who exploit supporters for financial gain have no place at Manchester United and deserve robust action.
‘However, that action must be fair, proportionate and transparent. Long-standing supporters who have followed Manchester United for decades, often across multiple generations of the same family, should never feel they are being treated as suspects without clear evidence, due process or a meaningful opportunity to respond to the allegations made against them.
Manchester United fan group The 1958 have previously organised protests against the club’s ownership under Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the Glazers
‘The current approach has created a growing perception among supporters of a “ban first and ask questions later” process. That is not how trust is built, nor is it consistent with the standards of fairness that loyal supporters should expect from their football club.
‘Investigations should establish the facts before sanctions are imposed, particularly where the potential consequence is the loss of a season ticket.
The Fans’ Forum has rightly called on the club to pause the issuing of further suspensions and to halt any cancellation of season tickets while meaningful discussions take place. We fully support that request.
‘The club and its supporters share the same objective: ensuring tickets are used fairly by genuine Manchester United supporters while protecting the integrity of the ticketing system.
That objective will only be achieved through trust, transparency, proportionate enforcement,
better-designed systems and meaningful engagement with supporters, not by creating an environment where loyal fans fear losing relationships with the club that have been built over decades.
‘This is also a significant moment for supporter representation. For the first time, supporter organisations from across the fanbase have come together to support a common position.
‘While each group has its own perspective and priorities, we are united by our commitment to protecting Manchester United, its supporters and the unique supporter culture that has been built over generations.’
United’s ticketing policy allows for fans to forward their season tickets to approved friends or family members. However, many supporters received emails last week informing them of suspicious activity on their account and asking them to identify every device used to access it. Another round of emails followed on Monday night, and there are fears that more will follow.
United fans now fear losing their season tickets over claims they breached the rules
The restrictions on buying and transferring tickets have been lifted on some accounts, with the club admitting that innocent fans may have been affected and apologising for the inconvenience.
However, other fans have been left in the dark and in fear of losing their season tickets, which they have already paid for. It’s unclear if they would be refunded if found to have breached the rules.
United are said be aware of the backlash but will not share any data until the process is complete as they continue to target touts who threaten the integrity of the club’s ticketing operation.
Insiders point out that supporters are merely being sent a request for information, and no sanctions are being imposed until they have replied or 14 days have elapsed without a response.
While they acknowledged the concern and distress caused to anyone receiving the emails, they say the messages are only sent if there is a technical anomaly on the account consistent with touting, and no sanctions will be issued if there is a straightforward explanation. Even then, sanctions are imposed at the end of the process and not with the initial emails.
The club have also pushed back on suggestions that the crackdown is designed to reduce the number of season-ticket holders or increase revenue, with sources saying that any tickets cancelled after the appeals process will be re-issued as a season ticket to someone on the waiting list.
