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Nationwide campaign sees protests staged at stadiums against rising costs for football fans

A new nationwide campaign sees protests to be staged at stadiums across the country against rising costs for football fans.

The Football Supporters’ Association (FSA) has put this forward, titled #StopExploitingLoyalty to protest against the escalating costs for football supporters, particularly focusing on rising ticket prices across various clubs in the Premier League.

Fan groups from multiple Premier League clubs, including the likes of Liverpool, West Ham, Wolves, and others, are planning or have already staged protests.

These actions are not just limited to ticket prices but also address the reduction or complete withdrawal of concession pricing for various supporter groups, such as the elderly, youth, and disabled fans.

Infographic showing that if a pint had risen at the same rate of inflation that football tickets had since 1990 a pint would cost £11.80!

Many fans also urged to go and attend non league games, to make a point, benefit non league clubs, and even help save them when they so desperate need extra income coming their way.

The campaign aims to highlight how the loyalty of fans is being exploited through profit-driven strategies like increasing ticket prices beyond inflation rates and reducing or eliminating concessions.

The FSA advocates for more affordable football, suggesting measures like price caps and maintaining or reintroducing concessionary ticket prices.

There’s a notable unity among fans across rival clubs, demonstrating a collective frustration with current football governance and pricing models. For instance, fans from Tottenham and West Ham coming together in protest, showcasing a rare solidarity among typically rival supporters.

Fans and groups are using hashtags like #StopExploitingLoyalty to spread their message and call for change with the movement underscores the need for an independent regulator in football, as suggested by some within the community, to ensure fair practices regarding ticket pricing and fan engagement.

The protests are not just about cost but also about the broader issue of how football clubs treat their most loyal supporters.

The campaign reflects a growing discontent among football supporters with the commercialisation of the sport, where fan loyalty often seems to be taken for granted in favour of profit.

This movement might lead to significant discussions on the governance of football, potentially influencing policy changes concerning ticket pricing and supporter rights in the future.

FSA STATEMENT:

Fan groups from a wide range of top-flight clubs will meet ahead of games in the next fortnight to show their support for the growing #StopExploitingLoyalty campaign led by the Football Supporters’ Association (FSA).

Nineteen out of 20 top-flight clubs raised prices last season – only Crystal Palace froze prices – and supporters say far too many club owners and executives see regular match goers as a resource to be bled dry rather than valued.

Feedback from FSA-member supporter groups suggests Premier League prices have gone up by around 7% although this masks a range of increases – including a widespread attack on concessionary prices for younger and older supporters.

Examples include Nottingham Forest where the club bumped up prices by 20% and rewrote the rules on youth tickets meaning an 18-year-old could see their ticket jump from under £190 to £850. Nottingham Forest Supporters’ Trust said rises were “totally disproportionate”.

Fan groups at Spurs and West Ham United protested together last weekend over their own clubs’ withdrawal of concessionary rates. Hammers United say the club are “gaslighting us that unless fans pay more, we will not be able to compete”.

A petition against season ticket rises and attacks on the concessionary band has been signed by more than 20,000 Hammers while 15,000 Wolves supporters have also backed a similar petition at their club.

Over at Spurs the Save Our Seniors group points out that the £3m raised by the club through cutting the concessionary category is the exact amount required to cover executive chairman Daniel Levy’s bonus for one year. Villa are looking to charge disabled supporters up to £72 for a ticket.

The actions over the next two designated #StopExploitingLoyalty weekends are a direct response to the range of rises and attacks on concessionary pricing bands at so many clubs.

As well as matchday activities fan groups are raising the #StopExploitingLoyalty campaign at upcoming supporter engagement meetings with their clubs.

FSA chair Tom Greatrex said:

“The Premier League and its clubs really need to listen to this message – clubs must cherish and reward supporter loyalty rather than exploit it. 

“Fans feel clubs often care more about attracting one-off visitors who’ll pay through the nose for a ticket while spending fortunes in the club shop, when they should be looking to reward those who go week in, week out, win or lose.

“A decade ago the FSA secured a £30 away price cap in the Premier League and we’d implore clubs to speak to their supporters and find new ways to make sure football is affordable for all. We are certainly having those discussions with the leagues.

“An incoming Independent Football Regulator should also ensure ticket prices are part of a proper consultation process between a club and its supporters – something which is far from the case at present.”

Premier League revenues are at a historically high level with the newest four-year TV deal bringing in £6.7bn for the domestic portion alone. If the pattern from their last deal continues a similar amount will be raised when the league sells off its foreign rights packages.

A media revenue haul of £12-13bn, plus other commercial sponsorship packages, makes up the vast majority of top-flight income. Gate receipts are almost a marginal concern in comparison, with clubs generating around 7%-13% of their income from matchdays.

Squeezing supporters for an extra million or two at every club is loose change  for clubs and will make next to no difference when it comes to profit and sustainability (PSR) rules as football has a spending problem, not an income problem.

While high ticket prices are the biggest barrier to any supporter following their team in person, many also feel financially squeezed every step of the way – from concourse food and drink costs, to the number of replica kits produced every season alongside the multiple TV subscriptions required to follow a full Premier League season.

The FSA would also like to hear from supporters who want to get involved with their local supporters’ group at the upcoming fixtures.

The FSA and our supporter groups will be available for interview before games or at the listed fixtures where supporters from both sides will meet for photo opportunities with #StopExploitingLoyalty banners. If you would like to speak to a specific supporters’ group about this issue, or interview them on matchdays, please contact harpreet.robertson@thefsa.org.uk or thomas.concannon@thefsa.org.uk who can pass on your request to the relevant group.

Twitter users gave their reaction to the nationwide campaign which sees protests staged at stadiums against rising costs for football fans…

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