Manchester United fans previously protested against the owners in February, 2026
Manchester United fans previously protested against the owners in February, 2026
Manchester United fans will protest against the club's controversial changes to tackle ticket touting today.
United supporters' group The 1958 declared that 'a line had been crossed' after the club introduced measures to tackle ticket touting. United recently confirmed that 685 season ticket holders had been banned after the operation and a further 464 received either a reduced sanction or a final warning.
While the club deem the operation to have been a success, they have conceded that 'some innocent supporters may have been affected'. MEN Sport has spoken to several angry season ticket holders who were threatened with bans.
United supporter groups called on the club to end the suspension of season tickets in July. Unprecedented action was taken as a whole host of supporter groups came together to release a joint statement, and they now feel they have been left with no choice but to protest against the changes.
Follow live updates from the protest below:
Announcing the protest, The 1958 said:
United supporter groups are being called upon to all stand together following reports of bans and season ticket sanctions without clear and compelling evidence always being presented. For generations, match-going Reds have given their time, money and loyalty to Manchester United, home and away. That loyalty deserves to be treated with respect.
(Image: PA)
There's plenty that these two clubs disagree on, but on this issue City fans are united with their fierce rivals. The Blues' supporters' group 1894 wrote on X this week:
United group The 1958 inform us their march is from Bishop Blaize at 3.30pm and will head for the Munich tunnel at 3.45pm. So any Blues going may want to time their entrance before or after this. Omar Berrada, you are welcome to him. Stuff like this we're on the same side.
Manchester City fans celebrate their victory by unveiling a banner reading Panic on the Streets of London during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Arsenal at Etihad Stadium
(Image: Getty)
Fans in the Stretford End are going to send a strong message when the teams come out.
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In a statement, the United fan group said:
This is not about one group or one individual. It is about how Manchester United treats its match-going supporters. It may not affect you today, it may not next time but that day is coming for all of us.ALL REDS. ALL GROUPS. ONE VOICE. SHOW THE EVIDENCE. LIFT THE BANS.
(Image: 2025 Getty Images)
United fans will protest the ‘crackdown on season ticket holders’ before today's game. The club’s ticketing touting investigation was a huge story over the summer, and United announced two days ago that 685 fans had been stripped of their season tickets, and 464 fans had been sanctioned/warned. There was no consultation with fans before the investigation, and the debacle only reinforced the feeling that season-ticket holders are unwanted by the club. I’ll be leaving the media room to cover the protest shortly, so stay tuned for updates.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 1: Fans of Manchester United protest against the clubs ownership, The Glazer family ahead of the Premier League match between Manchester United and Fulham at Old Trafford on February 1, 2026 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
(Image: Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA, Getty Images)
A recent club statement read:
Over the course of the summer, Manchester United undertook an operation to review accounts that showed irregular activity resembling ticket misuse. We committed to providing a further update once our investigation had concluded. The club's guiding principle around ticketing is simple: to keep our fans safe and secure, to protect fair access to tickets for genuine Manchester United supporters and to tackle ticket touting, misuse and activity for financial gain. The investigation identified 1,617 accounts where unusual activity was occurring and required further review. Each account holder was contacted and given the opportunity to provide information and explain the activity identified on their account. They were also told what activity had been identified to be able to respond to the club with an appropriate level of detail. Where satisfactory explanations were provided, restrictions were removed and no further action was taken. In many of those cases, the cause was sharing of account details and passwords, which is in breach of our terms and conditions. We recognise that many supporters have shared account login details in circumstances they regarded as legitimate, and we did not anticipate the extent to which this was occurring. In those cases, where there was no additional evidence of misuse, no sanction was imposed. Supporters then had the right to appeal to an independent appeals panel, which includes fan representation, established to provide an impartial review of decisions separate from the original investigating team. Ahead of the panel convening, where sanctions had been applied, a further review stage was implemented where each case subject to multiple levels of checks, conducted by club employees. All appeals have now been heard. The most serious sanction (a season ticket ban) was reserved for where there was sufficient evidence of tickets being sold above face value or activity for financial gain.
Fans are being asked to meet at The Bishop Blaize pub at around 3pm ahead of the march towards Old Trafford. The protest's organisers have urged fans to make their feelings known peacefully.
The Bishop Blaize in Stretford
The Bishop Blaize in Stretford(Image: Wetherspoons)
Welcome to our live coverage as United fans protest ahead of the Manchester derby. United fans will march towards Old Trafford this afternoon to protest against the club's measures to tackle ticket touts. This strong approach from United led to some lifelong supporters being caught up in the chaos.
United's handling of the situation led to several supporters' groups uniting to call on the club to rethink their approach to the issue. United insist the operation was a 'success' but have acknowledged that some innocent fans may have been caught up in the issue.
Stay tuned for updates...