Football fans' biggest complaints include FIFA, rising ticket prices, and Super Bowl-style half-time shows, according to new research. A study of 5,000 fans found that 61% believe the sport has lost its way. The research, commissioned by OLBG to celebrate the launch of the Marc White Fixes Football show, revealed that much of fans' frustration stems from soaring costs, with 88% feeling that ordinary supporters are being priced out.
Cost Concerns and Matchday Experience
Alongside ticket prices, fans complained about the number of subscriptions required to watch games and the Champions League not being free-to-air. Many also expressed dissatisfaction with the number of kits released by teams each season, while others dislike colourful football boots.
Marc White, founder and manager of Dorking Wanderers, said: "The feeling that fans are being priced out of football really stands out from the study. Following your club has become more expensive than ever, and supporters are noticing it. Football doesn't exist without fans, so it's important the game doesn't lose sight of that."
Fans' Priorities for Change
When asked what they would do if they were in charge, many said they would enforce cheaper tickets. Other top priorities included scrapping VAR, making more matches free-to-air, and reducing the influence of bodies like FIFA.
Regarding VAR, only 18% said they would keep it as it is. The biggest issues cited were the time it takes, the game feeling too stop-start, and it creating more debate than it solves. If given the chance, fans would introduce greater consistency, quicker decisions, and even a time limit for reviews.
Half-Time Shows and Other Gripes
Respondents were also unhappy with half-time shows. Only a quarter said they enjoyed this year's World Cup Final performance. Nearly three quarters (72%) felt negatively about the idea of bringing in such shows on a more regular basis, while 31% branded it "a terrible idea".
White added: "Fans are the lifeblood of the game, but a lot of them feel football is drifting further away from the people who made it what it is. People still love football, they just want decisions to be made with supporters at the heart of them."
Top 20 Football Gripes
The full list of the top 20 biggest football gripes is as follows:
- Rising ticket prices
- Too much focus on money
- Players diving / exaggerating contact
- VAR
- FIFA
- Inconsistent refereeing decisions
- Too much time-wasting
- Too much football being behind paid subscriptions
- Too much commercialisation
- Champions League not being free-to-air
- Super Bowl-style half-time shows
- Replica football shirts being too expensive
- Too many kits being released every season
- Modern "systems-ball" / overly tactical football
- Premier League decision-making
- UEFA
- Fixture congestion
- Lack of atmosphere at some grounds
- Clubs releasing too much merchandise
- Matches being too physical and not technical enough
