Man United's controversial operation to address ticket touting received widespread backlash from fans over the summer.
United fans' relationship with the club is strained.(Image: 2026 Manchester United FC)
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Manchester United have confirmed their new 'supporter escalations executive' hire will be part of the club's standard incentive scheme, which is for all staff.
United have posted a job advert for a supporter escalations executive, a dedicated staff member to "support the club's mission to tackle touting" by overseeing "complex supporter escalations, investigations and appeals".
Concerns have been raised about the advert because it outlines the new hire will be included in the club's annual incentive scheme, which fans feared would be contingent on getting through a high turnover of appeals, or defending sanction decisions against appeals.
However, United sources have confirmed that whoever is hired for the role will be included in the club's annual incentive scheme as all other employees are, and that the bonus scheme is not specific to the role.
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The job advert has caught attention due to the strength of feeling among supporters following the club's operation to address ticket touting over the summer.
United attempted to crack down on touts, but a blanket approach was taken, meaning hundreds of fans who were innocent of wrongdoing had to prove they were not touts.
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.
In September, United published an update on their investigation, announcing that 685 fans had been stripped of their season tickets, while 464 fans had been sanctioned or warned.
The club said they had "broken up large-scale organised networks", but United fans protested before the Manchester derby, with supporter group The 1958 declaring that 'a line had been crossed'.
Michael Carrick, Manager of Manchester United, dejected after the Premier League 2026/27 match between Everton and Manchester United at Hill Dickinson Stadium
Michael Carrick, Manager of Manchester United, dejected after the Premier League 2026/27 match between Everton and Manchester United at Hill Dickinson Stadium