Manchester United's decision to sell £125 Old Trafford turf cubes this week prompted a familiar reaction from football fans: an eye roll, a shake of the head, and the phrase "Game's Gone."
The phrase has become the by-word reaction of traditional supporters to their frustrations at some of the traits of the modern, multi-billion pound global industry that is the Premier League.
During the three-week international break, Mirror Football journalists have nominated their modern football pet hates, inviting fans to list, debate, and rank them.
VAR Hysteria and Soft Fouls
One journalist ranted against the hysteria surrounding VAR from pundits and fans, noting that many of the same fans who demanded technology to get tight decisions right now complain that VAR has "ruined the game."
Another pet hate is the soft fouls players win by jumping or falling on top of the ball, with officials seemingly awarding them every time. Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhaes was named as a master of these tactics.
Ticket Prices and FA Cup Semi-Finals
The cost of tickets has spiralled out of control, with a ticket to football often costing more than £30, which one journalist called "daylight robbery." The Premier League's limit on away tickets at £30 was praised.
The FA Cup semi-finals being held at Wembley was also criticised, with Villa Park hosting the most iconic last four clash in 1999. The journalist argued that the constant drag to the capital takes the beauty and occasion out of the final.
Transfer Experts and Social Media Apologies
The prevalence of 'transfer experts' was another moan, with the element of surprise in football transfers being lost as stories are drip-fed for days and weeks.
Footballers apologising on social media after losing a game was labelled "performative nonsense," with the mea culpa now as big a part of the game as Match of the Day.
Other Grievances
Other pet hates include mid-shootout goalkeeper hugs, football as a glossy 'product' with unnecessary kit changes, tiny loyalty discounts for season ticket holders, pre-match handshakes, retail park-style stadiums, the word 'pivot' to describe a holding midfielder, and moving fixtures so fans can't get the train back.
Fans are invited to suggest their own football pet hates in the comments and vote in the poll at the bottom of the page.
