Liverpool fans are planning a raft of actions against the club’s owners amid “overwhelming opposition” to planned ticket price rises.
Last month the club announced general admission tickets would rise in line with inflation for the next three seasons, despite consultation with the club’s supporters’ board, who petitioned for a freeze.
Now Liverpool fans, led by Spirit of Shankly, are to stage a series of protests against these ticket price rises which they say have been made in the face of “overwhelming opposition” from supporters – starting at Saturday’s game at Anfield against Fulham.
Spirit of Shankly said: “Liverpool FC has chosen to ignore clear, overwhelming opposition from its own supporters and push ahead with plans to increase ticket prices for the next three seasons.
“The open meeting online, the survey, and countless conversations all point to the same thing: fans do not accept this decision.”
Matchday protests
Back in 2016, Liverpool fans staged a walkout at Anfield over the owners’ plans to increase matchday tickets to £77 and introduce a £1,000 season ticket. The action left thousands of seats on the Kop empty.
That walkout – the first in Liverpool’s history – caused Fenway Sports Groups to abandon its plans for higher ticket prices. Spirit of Shankly hopes the club’s hierarchy will listen once more.
“This is Liverpool FC’s owners locking in price rises for years to come and removing meaningful annual scrutiny from supporters,” Spirit of Shankly said. “If it goes unchallenged, it sets a precedent. Not just for Liverpool, but across the game”
Spirit of Shankly will begin a series of matchday demonstrations in the coming weeks, as well as encouraging fans to avoid spending money in the ground. Delaying the renewal of season tickets up until the deadline is another tactic being discussed.
Spirit of Shankly: “This decision sits with ownership. Not just at Anfield. Not just at Chapel Street. In Boston. They have made the call. They can reverse it.”
Over the last two years, Liverpool fans have been at the forefront of the FSA’s nationwide “Stop Exploiting Loyalty” campaign and Spirit of Shankly were signatories to the Premier League-wide call for price freeze before Christmas.
In total 115 supporter organisations and fan advisory boards spoke with one voice in an attempt to stop further rises – in 2024-25 19 Premier League clubs put their prices up while 13 of the 20 clubs did the same this season.
Signatory fan groups say the time is right for a two-year halt, which falls within the remaining term on the current UK broadcasting deal, to enable future discussions on ticketing strategies between clubs and supporter representatives.