Man City, Man Utd, Liverpool, Everton fans are this weekend set to stage a protest over ‘offensive’ ticket price rises.
In alignment with a campaign initiated by the Football Supporters Association (FSA), Manchester United fans are to display a ‘Stop Exploiting Loyalty’ banner alongside their Everton counterparts prior to the match at Old Trafford on Sunday at 1:30pm.
On the same day, Liverpool will face Manchester City at 4pm, where supporters of both teams are also expected to display banners with a similar message during their game.
Man Utd has recently faced criticism for taking advantage of its supporters by implementing a mid-season increase in matchday ticket prices to £66, without offering any concessions for children or senior citizens.
For just £66 at Old Trafford you can sit with a puddle below your feet and a dead rat!
This picture was taken last night 😳 #MUFC pic.twitter.com/YTL1H02WQK
— The 44 ⚽️ (@The_Forty_Four) November 29, 2024
“The rivalry between these four clubs has been, and is, fierce. But we all go to games, love our club and want to keep football affordable for future generations while protecting heritage and communities,” said a spokesperson for the Manchester United fan group FC58.
“The only way we can achieve this is collaboration. This is our first step. This movement will grow.”
Dave Kelly, from Everton Fans Supporting Foodbanks, said: “We are delighted to be standing shoulder with the Reds and Blues from Manchester and Merseyside.
“This isn’t about the colour of the shirt or the badge upon the chest. It’s about the future of the beautiful game, protecting and making it affordable for all fans.”
Liverpool fans have seen ticket prices go up by 2% for this season, while for Man City, season ticket prices have been raised, external by an average of 5%.
“It’s time for clubs to remember that their wealth and success are built on the unwavering loyalty of their supporters,” said Gareth Roberts, the spokesman of Liverpool fan group Spirit of Shankly.
“Raising prices when financial pressures on fans are at an all-time high is an insult. We’re proud to unite with fans from Manchester in this campaign to fight for fairness.”
MCFC Fans Foodbank Support spokesperson Nick Clarke said: “There’s been increasing animosity between City and Liverpool fans in recent years due to the rivalry on the pitch, so we’re incredibly proud to stand together on this important issue.
“Tribalism holds football fans back from addressing the real threats to the game we built – working-class fans are being priced out before our eyes. We can reverse this trend.”
Supporter groups from Everton, Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United will join forces on Sunday at Anfield and Old Trafford to deliver a clear message on ticket prices – Stop Exploiting Loyalty.
🔗https://t.co/NmNpoLHUPF pic.twitter.com/82gPQA4O4a
— The FSA (@WeAreTheFSA) November 28, 2024
Henry Winter tweeted this week: “Greed, injustice and naivety pervade clubs’ ticket price hikes for fans – those who provide the noise and background that broadcasters love and pay clubs handsomely for. Fans’ role in the great Premier League show is one very significant reason why – along with the players, managers and the sporting drama – the new broadcast rights deal rose by 17% to £12.25bn. The few millions generated from ticket hikes hardly compares to the revenue from broadcast – or the vast sums spent on lawyers on arguments that should be sorted out around the PL boardroom table. So why alienate loyal fans?
As @WeAreTheFSA says, “soaring ticket prices, the erosion of concessionary rates, and above-inflation increases are pricing out the very people who form the backbone of English football culture”. Ticketing issues now form part of the Independent Regulator’s remit. Those execs and owners complaining about the arrival of the Regulator really have only themselves to blame.
Fans are – rightly – protesting. Enough is enough. And they’re protesting collectively which does not always happen in tribal English football. Liverpool and Manchester City fans stand shoulder to shoulder outside Anfield at 3pm on Sunday to call on clubs to #StopExploitingLoyalty.
This says a lot about the English game. pic.twitter.com/VWTZ5GhrWB
— Jonathanlufc (@Jonathanlufc64) November 28, 2024
MCFC Fans Foodbank Support spokesperson Nick Clarke said: “There’s been increasing animosity between City and Liverpool fans in recent years due to the rivalry on the pitch, so we’re incredibly proud to stand together on this important issue. Tribalism holds football fans back from addressing the real threats to the game we built – working-class fans are being priced out before our eyes. We can reverse this trend.”
Spirit of Shankly (Liverpool) spokesman Gareth Roberts said: “It’s time for clubs to remember that their wealth and success are built on the unwavering loyalty of their supporters. That passionate support that fuels the creation of flags and banners, of songs, and vocal backing, comes from generational commitment to the cause. That support is being threatened by the price of football – from tickets to TV subscriptions, even down to the prices of food and drink on the concourse. Raising prices when financial pressures on fans are at an all-time high is an insult. We’re proud to unite with fans from Manchester in this campaign to fight for fairness.”
FC58 spokesperson (Manchester United): “The rivalry between these four clubs has been, and is fierce. But we all go to games, love our club and want to keep football affordable for future generations whilst protecting heritage and communities. The only way we can achieve this is collaboration. This is our first step. This movement will grow.”
Dave Kelly from Everton Fans Supporting Foodbanks said: “We are delighted to be standing shoulder with the Reds and Blues from Manchester and Merseyside. This isn’t about the colour of the shirt or the badge upon the chest. It’s about the future of the beautiful game, protecting and making it affordable for all fans.”
The FSA’s Thomas Concannon added: “The price hikes and attacks on concessionary prices that we’ve seen in the Premier League have led directly to our #StopExploitingLoyalty campaign and this weekend’s actions. To see supporters from rival clubs stand together to deliver this message is amazing and shows just how strongly fans feel – they have the FSA’s full support.”
This is what fans are saying with Man City, Man Utd, Liverpool, Everton fans to protest ‘offensive’ ticket price rises…
@NickDuGard1: Which is why, Henry, that so many fans are turning to non league clubs for their football
@fazzamania: I cancelled my football subscription yesterday after 30 years with Sky. I’m simply not paying these footballers any more for most of the teams to serve up a season of dross. It’s starts with the broadcasters. Take action now.
@nickwaites11: Quite ironic in that at the pre season meeting between Sky and the Premiership clubs commercial directors in 1992, Sky’s vision was to let fans attend games for nothing on the basis that would create the atmosphere they desired and Sky’s payments would compensate clubs.
@Stevo_j: How quickly they forget the soulless “product” that Covid gave us, and the declining interest in watching it on TV. They can bring in the once-in-a-lifetime tourists, with their full bags from the megastore, but they need the regular fans to bring the atmosphere.
@neil_pattinson7: The ‘back bone’ of every club, as they put it, are exactly the type of people the PL clubs don’t want at games anymore! Clubs don’t want lads rocking up at 5 to 3 after being down the pub and not spending a penny around the ground and disappearing straight back there after!
@mywhufc: Would match attending fans consider not attending one game if done as part of a Fans strike nationally. Only as a whole can fans defeat the PL cartel in scrapping concession tickets
@Jgibbins: At the latest Fans Forum it was revealed 25% of tickets at Chelsea are now hospitality. Meanwhile, members who have spent their life following the club face a massive struggle to get a sniff of tickets for league games. Needs a campaign by fans of all clubs to stop the greed.
@gantshillhammer:
The #football family needs to work together on this
the midweek game on #amazon where every game is televised
fans intentionally enter late
turn their backs
leave at a specific time
Some form of protest that will be picked up around the world
@WeAreTheFSA
the self righteous
@scruffgolfer: The British fan is ripped off in all sports because they attend sporting events and the organisers use that as a supply and demand justification for high prices. In the 80s it was affordable when TV gave less. RIP off Britain
@WeAre1894: It’s a shame @henrywinter is practically a lone voice in the media calling out PL greed. Where are the rest of the media & when are the ex players who all make fortunes from media commitments, going to start acknowledging the problem? All complicit by their silence.
@paulrm166: Fans need to vote with their feet Henry, by boycotting. That will soon make the clubs reassess things. Problem is they don’t. Prices go up and up and games remain sold out. 🤷♂️
Well said @henrywinter . Clubs are gaslighting fans. Quoting PSR assuming that we don’t know how these things work. They underestimate us, time and time again.
— Hammers United (@HammersUnited2) November 28, 2024
This says a lot about the English game. pic.twitter.com/VWTZ5GhrWB
— Jonathanlufc (@Jonathanlufc64) November 28, 2024
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