Premier League
Man Utd Fans Threaten ‘Outright Rebellion’ Over Ticket Price Rises
Manchester United fans have written to Sir Jim Ratcliffe threatening “outright rebellion” after the Ineos chief was subjected to abuse while leaving Craven Cottage on Sunday.
In an open letter, Manchester United Supporters Trust (Must) called now “the worst possible time” to make significant pricing changes and blamed part of the club’s poor form on alienated fans.
And last week United wrote to fan group The 1958 saying Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR) breaches were a possibility and prices could rise again due to “not sustainable” losses.
“We do not expect fans to make up all the shortfall – but we do need to look at our ticketing strategy to ensure we are charging the right amount, and offering the right discounts, across our products for our fans,” the club said.
In a 1,011-word statement, Must outlined their case for prices remaining at their current level, broken into sections titled, “why this is the wrong time”, “the value of supportive fans”, “a better way forward” and “the business case for a bold approach”.
They argued that fan discontent poisons all elements of the club and threatened further protests.
“This discontent could lead to outright rebellion, with consequences not just for matchday revenues but also for sponsor relations and the club’s global brand,” Must wrote.
“Sponsors depend on a passionate and engaged fanbase; alienating supporters risks damaging these critical partnerships.
“Major missteps without proper understanding of the unforeseen impacts could provoke severe backlash from fans, as history has shown.”
A link was also made between poor form and poor atmosphere, saying: “Fan dissatisfaction affects the matchday atmosphere, creating performance anxiety for players, rather than the vocal support needed to inspire them.
“A passive or even hostile atmosphere at Old Trafford compounding struggling team performances could spiral into a catastrophic tailspin.”
The letter then included a host of proposals for the future. Must suggested freezing ticket prices for members and season ticket holders next season, alongside exploring share issues to raise funding and allowing fans to invest.
Must also urged the club to “resist the temptation to sell off the fruits of the youth academy for short-term fixes”, as Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo have both been linked with Chelsea.
There was also a request for closer consultation with fan groups around key decisions which affect supporters, which will “ensure decisions are informed by fan perspectives and made with the best chance of securing unity rather than rebellion.”
Ratcliffe was hounded in his car after the Fulham win, with one fan saying “£66… you are taking the piss”. Another said: “You’re worse than the Glazers”.
United are 12th in the Premier League, with last season’s eighth their lowest finish since 1990. They reportedly need to sell players in order to buy more due to PSR restrictions, although one defeat in the past six matches under Ruben Amorim suggests form might gradually be improving.
Yet Ratcliffe appears set to continue on his cost-cutting and fund-raising spree undeterred, clearly believing the club do not capitalise on their massive global fanbase enough and that enough supporters will be willing to pay higher prices to make it worthwhile.
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