Manchester United supporter groups have strongly criticised the club after some fans had their season tickets suspended as part of a crackdown on illegal ticket reselling. The Fans' Forum, Manchester United Supporters Trust (MUST), The 1958, and five other groups issued a joint statement saying supporters are being 'treated as suspects'.
Club targets multiple device access
United last week contacted fans who used six or more devices to access club accounts or forward tickets, as the club believes this indicates potential ticket purchasing for resale. Members are only permitted to forward tickets to other members or sell them back to United. Those contacted were asked to explain why multiple accounts were accessed, identify the devices used, and provide photo ID to prove their identity.
The email from United stated: 'Following a detailed review of activity across our ticketing and digital platforms, we have identified sustained activity associated with your account, or with accounts that appear to be connected to or controlled by you, which may indicate a breach of the club’s ticketing terms and conditions.' Fans had their accounts suspended, leading to season tickets being frozen, and were given only three days to appeal, despite United's terms and conditions usually allowing 14 days.
Fan groups demand fair process
The joint statement from supporter groups 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. The current approach has created a growing perception among supporters of “ban first and ask questions later”.'
The groups called on the club to pause further suspensions and halt any cancellation of season tickets while meaningful discussions take place. Fans have cited reasons for using multiple devices, such as helping groups of friends or elderly family members who struggle with technology.
Club plans to reinstate tickets
United's position is that no bans or formal sanctions have been applied, and any season tickets that have been revoked will be reissued before the first home game of the season against Ipswich Town on 30 August. The club has applied restrictions to accounts and offered only three days to appeal, as United is certain some of these accounts are used for illegal resale and the normal 14-day period would be exploited to sell tickets.
