Manchester United Fans Criticize Management After Ticket Price Hike

A Manchester United supporters group (MAST) has described the club’s decision to raise ticket prices for all members to £66 ($83) for the remainder of the season as “damaging.”

The British news agency (PA Media) reported that MAST revealed the club had informed the fan forum that changes to some ticket policies would be implemented immediately, “and that this price will apply to children, seniors over 65, as well as adults.”

This news came after the club confirmed that the cost of paying the previous coaching staff, led by Erik ten Hag, amounted to £10.4 million, while the termination fee for Portuguese coach Ruben Amorim and his staff was £11 million.

These figures were part of an expanded version of the club’s first-quarter accounts, which were sent to the New York Stock Exchange on Wednesday.

Manchester United and Everton fans are planning to organize a protest against ticket prices before their match next Sunday.

Fans have been invited to gather in front of the “Trinity” statue outside Old Trafford Stadium to support the Football Supporters’ Association campaign “Stop Exploiting Loyalty.”

In addition to the overall price increase, fans are also upset by the cancellation of discount tickets for certain groups.

A statement from MAST read: “It is enough to say that the idea that fans should pay their fair share for the club’s extravagance and/or mismanagement—and above all, the Glazers’ lack of investment over two decades—is damaging.”

The statement added, “We, the fans, have done what was asked of us. We supported the players even during poor performances.”

The statement continued: “We object to this move in the strongest possible terms, both in terms of the action itself and the lack of consultation, which is a step back from the process agreed upon with the club before the INEOS group arrived.”

The statement concluded: “In the coming days, MAST will have urgent discussions with the club to make them listen to fans’ concerns about this policy.”

It emphasized: “Manchester United fans have endured a lot. We will not remain silent about this, and we need to be ready to resist any further attempts to increase ticket prices.”