September 9 – Manchester United fan group The 1958 have called for a protest before Sunday’s derby against City, taking a stand over season ticket sanctions handed out by the club.
The group is urging supporters to gather at The Bishop Blaize pub near Old Trafford from 3pm to “unite peacefully” and declare that “a line has been crossed.” The anger stems from United’s crackdown on touting, which has seen action taken against fans using multiple devices to log into tickets.
Bans have followed in some cases, but innocent supporters have been swept up too, with the club accused of opaque, aggressive communications that left people fearing for their seats.
The latest flashpoint was a text sent to season ticket holders warning them to pay for the Champions League opener against Sabah or risk losing a Premier League seat. “If you don’t purchase a ticket, your ST will be deactivated for a future PL game,” it read.
The policy dates back over 20 years and only applies to fans who opted into the automatic cup scheme and agreed to its terms. The text is the final step after failed payment and a grace period, and buying a ticket avoids any Premier League sanction. The wording, though, has drawn heavy criticism, and United say they’re looking into how it went out.
A 1958 spokesman put the principle plainly. “No loyal supporter should be treated as guilty without being given a fair opportunity to understand and challenge the case against them,” he said.
The wider backdrop is a fraying relationship, after price hikes and rising season ticket costs.
Contact the writer of this story at paul.nicholson@insideworldfootball.com