Manchester United have insisted they are not looking to reduce the number of season ticket holders amid their operation to tackle touting.
Club acknowledges innocent fans affected
United have described their operation to address touting as 'successful', but the club have recognised that 'some innocent supporters may have been affected' and apologised for the inconvenience during the process.
The Manchester Evening News has spoken to several unhappy fans who are at risk of losing their season ticket, despite protesting their innocence.
There has been widespread uproar among fans who received emails stating that their accounts had been restricted until they provided evidence proving they are not guilty of the alleged suspicious behaviour.
Fan groups unite in joint statement
United feel their hand was forced to tackle touting, which the club views as a serious issue, but some genuine fans have been caught up in the process.
The MEN were the first to cover the story last week. The issue has brought together the various United fan groups, who took the unprecedented step of releasing a joint statement on Tuesday night which formally made five requests to United:
- Immediately halt the ongoing suspension process.
- Immediately retract all unproven suspensions.
- Confirm the current number of season tickets.
- Explain its apparent policy of reducing the number of season tickets.
- Confirm that all reclaimed season tickets are reissued as season tickets to supporters on the season ticket waiting list.
Club denies revenue motive
United have been accused by fans of wanting to lower the number of season ticket holders to make more money by selling tickets on a game-by-game basis, but the club has denied those suggestions.
Old Trafford sources said the touting operation is not about revenue or a reduction in season tickets, outlining that if any are cancelled as a result of the operation, they will be re-issued as a season ticket to someone on the season ticket waiting list/with a cup season ticket.
A season ticket would only be reissued to a new supporter after the appeals process has concluded. However, supporters who protested their innocence and supplied evidence face a nervous wait as the club gets to grips with the backlash to the operation.
