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Manchester United release update on ticket touting investigation -'Our intention'

Man Utd launched an investigation to tackle touting last month, but it caught innocent fans in the crossfire.

United have released an update on their investigation.

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Manchester United have released a lengthy update on their controversial operation to address ticket touting.

United received widespread backlash from some of their most loyal supporters last month following the launch of an investigation into touting, which caught some innocent fans in the crossfire.

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.

United have issued a detailed response on their official website, including details such as why the review was undertaken, how it was conducted, what happens next and more.

The opening statement from United's website on the touting operation reads: "Thank you to the many supporters, fan representatives and supporter organisations who have shared their views with us over recent weeks.

"Our intention throughout this process is a simple one; to protect fair access to tickets for genuine Manchester United supporters and to tackle organised ticket touting and abuse of the ticketing system.

"We also intend to share the findings and supporting data once the process is concluded, allowing us to present the full picture. However, we also accept the importance of being as transparent as possible during the process, and we would therefore like to provide additional context at this stage.

"We have listened carefully to the feedback we have received, both through formal meetings and through the many conversations, emails and calls that have taken place. We know that this issue has caused significant concern and distress for some supporters.

"There is no doubt at all that this process has uncovered significant and organised touting which will enable us to remove tickets from touts and place them back in the hands of genuine fans. We believe this is something we are all aligned on.

"One example has uncovered 1,088 accounts accessed on a single device. However, we recognise that the way this process was communicated, and the impact it has had on some loyal match going supporters, has caused genuine upset and distress.

"We also recognise that some supporters who saw their actions as legitimate and have not made any financial gain from tickets may have felt that they were being treated harshly.

"We understand deeply the relationship between a supporter and their season ticket and that removing that bond should be reserved for serious breaches. In this process, we intend to reserve the most severe sanctions for cases where the evidence indicates organised touting, systematic misuse or activity for financial gain.

"Where this is not indicated, season tickets will not be cancelled. Any season ticket which is cancelled will be offered to a supporter on the waiting list, as a season ticket."

The update has not appeased some unhappy supporters, though. While some fans have had the restrictions on their accounts lifted, others are still in the midst of the appeal process, despite protesting their innocence.

The timing of the investigation has also impacted some fans' ability to apply for Hull away tickets on August 22.

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