It is part of a widespread backlash against changes which have impacted innocent fans
Manchester United fans are set to gather before today’s derby to protest against the club’s controversial changes to tackle ticket touting.
They are expected to gather outside The Bishop Blaize pub near Old Trafford from 3pm on Sunday as part of a widespread backlash against moves which have impacted innocent fans. Plans are afoot to unfurl a banner above the player’s tunnel inside the ground which says ‘the way you treat us is a disgrace’ amid continuing discontent about the club’s ownership from some fans.
The club described the operation to address touting as ‘successful’, but admits ‘some innocent supporters may have been affected’ and apologised for the inconvenience during the process.
United have revealed that 685 season ticket holders have been banned after the operation and a further 464 received either a reduced sanction or a final warning. They insist no innocent fans have been banned with 468 cases said to have been resolved while 226 account holders received a final warning.
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Club sources insist the operation has resulted in hundreds of touts being banned from Old Trafford and has broken up what they believe are large-scale organised networks buying tickets to sell on the black market.
The Manchester Evening News has spoken to several angry United season ticket holders across the summer following emails from the club alleging they had broken ticketing terms and conditions.
The fiasco brought together the various United fan groups, who took the unprecedented step of releasing a joint statement condemning the operation and demanding transparency from the club.
One supporter group The 1958 has announced a protest against the ‘season ticket banning crackdown’ before the Manchester derby, declaring that ‘a line has been crossed’.
A spokesman confirmed: “Manchester United supporter groups are being called upon to all stand together following reports of bans and season ticket sanctions without clear and compelling evidence always being presented.
“For generations, match-going Reds have given their time, money and loyalty to Manchester United, home and away. That loyalty deserves to be treated with respect.”
The 1958 have urged supporters to gather peacefully outside The Bishop Blaize pub near Old Trafford in a show of unity from 3pm on Sunday.
The spokesperson added: “This is not about one group or one individual. It is about how Manchester United treats its match-going supporters. It may not affect you today, it may not next time but that day is coming for all of us.
“ALL REDS. ALL GROUPS. ONE VOICE. SHOW THE EVIDENCE. LIFT THE BANS.”
A club statement said: “Over the course of the summer, Manchester United undertook an operation to review accounts that showed irregular activity resembling ticket misuse. We committed to providing a further update once our investigation had concluded.
“The club’s guiding principle around ticketing is simple: to keep our fans safe and secure, to protect fair access to tickets for genuine Manchester United supporters and to tackle ticket touting, misuse and activity for financial gain.
“The investigation identified 1,617 accounts where unusual activity was occurring and required further review. Each account holder was contacted and given the opportunity to provide information and explain the activity identified on their account. They were also told what activity had been identified to be able to respond to the club with an appropriate level of detail.
“Where satisfactory explanations were provided, restrictions were removed and no further action was taken. In many of those cases, the cause was sharing of account details and passwords, which is in breach of our terms and conditions. We recognise that many supporters have shared account login details in circumstances they regarded as legitimate, and we did not anticipate the extent to which this was occurring. In those cases, where there was no additional evidence of misuse, no sanction was imposed.
“Supporters then had the right to appeal to an independent appeals panel, which includes fan representation, established to provide an impartial review of decisions separate from the original investigating team.
“Ahead of the panel convening, where sanctions had been applied, a further review stage was implemented where each case subject to multiple levels of checks, conducted by club employees.
“All appeals have now been heard. The most serious sanction (a season ticket ban) was reserved for where there was sufficient evidence of tickets being sold above face value or activity for financial gain.”
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