Thousands of Manchester United supporters have reacted angrily after the club restricted season-ticket accounts as part of a campaign to identify ticket touts and enforce ticketing regulations.
Many affected fans insist they have done nothing wrong and fear they could lose season tickets they have held for decades.
According to supporters who spoke to BBC Sport, some of those flagged by the club include long-serving season ticket holders who regularly attend matches and share tickets with family members or friends when unable to attend.
One supporter, Andy, who has held a season ticket for more than 35 years, said he was informed that his account had been restricted and fears both he and his father could lose access to matches.
“My dad has been a season-ticket holder since 1974. Going to the match is our bond,” he said, describing the situation as stressful and upsetting.
The restrictions prevent affected supporters from purchasing or transferring tickets through their online accounts while the club reviews activity linked to those accounts.
In emails sent to supporters, Manchester United said it had identified ticketing patterns that required further clarification and requested explanations from account holders before any final decisions are made.
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The club has not yet revoked any season tickets. Cases will be reviewed by an appeals panel before the start of the Premier League season on August 22.
Supporters, however, argue that they have not been clearly informed of the allegations against them, leaving many uncertain about how to respond.
The Manchester United Supporters’ Trust (MUST) said it had received hundreds of requests for assistance and warned that the scale of the operation had caused widespread concern among fans.
The club’s latest crackdown is part of a broader effort to tackle ticket touting, which Manchester United believes affects between 10 and 15 percent of season-ticket accounts. Last season, the club cancelled approximately 22,000 tickets during the opening five home matches as part of anti-touting measures.
Manchester United has reportedly used automated third-party software to identify accounts showing signs of coordinated activity or potential misuse.
Club officials maintain that the vast majority of flagged accounts were correctly identified and that the process is aimed at protecting genuine supporters from ticket resale abuse.
However, fans argue that the system may be incorrectly targeting loyal supporters who often share account access with family members or friends to help purchase tickets, particularly for away matches or when managing digital ticketing arrangements.
The controversy comes amid broader tensions between supporters and the club over ticketing policies, rising costs, and changes introduced since Ineos acquired a minority stake and assumed control of football operations in 2024.
Some fans believe clubs are increasingly prioritizing higher-revenue matchday customers over traditional season-ticket holders, pointing to a decline in season-ticket numbers at Old Trafford from around 64,000 in 2006 to approximately 46,800 in 2026.
Football supporters’ groups have called for clearer and more consistent ticketing rules across the Premier League, warning that removing long-term season-ticket holders risks damaging club culture and matchday atmosphere.
