Man Utd fans take club to task over tickets

November 20, 2008

MANCHESTER, England (AFP) - Manchester United are embroiled in an ugly row with their own supporters after a fans group reported to the European champions to the Office of Fair Trading (OFT).

The Manchester United Supporters Trust (MUST) has lodged official papers with the OFT which claim that the club has ‘breached its statutory and legal obligations to season ticket holders’.

MUST are furious with United’s insistence on implementing a ‘compulsory cup scheme’, which forces season ticket holders to agree in advance to buy tickets for cup games even though they do not know how many they will have to pay for and who the opposition will be.

"Over recent years we have seen unfair terms and huge ticket price rises imposed on supporters by club owners taking advantage of their loyalty," said MUST chief executive Duncan Drasdo.

"MPs from all political parties have raised concerns and even the minister for sport felt it necessary to launch an outspoken attack on the huge price rises at Old Trafford in recent years.

"For a long time Manchester United was by no means the worst offender having previously had an admirable policy of keeping prices relatively low despite the success of the club. All that changed when the Glazers took over.

"However now, with the help of a team of eminent competition lawyers, economists and experts in sports law, we have been able to compile a comprehensive complaint based on Competition and Contract Law, which could have welcome consequences for supporters at clubs throughout the country."

United are yet to make any official comment but the Premier League champions are likely to mount a robust defence of their position.

Written by: AFP

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