Manchester United is facing criticism from several supporter groups after some fans reported restrictions on their online season-ticket accounts.

The club’s official fans’ forum, Manchester United Supporters Trust (MUST), along with The 1958 and The Red Army, are among the groups pushing back against the club’s efforts to combat illegal ticket resales.

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Critics argue that the club’s measures are overly stringent, raising concerns that innocent fans might have their season tickets revoked without justification.

A joint statement from the supporter groups expressed: “Professional touting, automated purchasing and those who exploit supporters for financial gain have no place at Manchester United and deserve robust action.

“However, that action must be fair, proportionate and transparent. Long-standing supporters who have followed Manchester United for decades, often across multiple generations of the same family, should never feel they are being treated as suspects without clear evidence, due process or a meaningful opportunity to respond to the allegations made against them.”

“The current approach has created a growing perception among supporters of a ‘ban first and ask questions later’ process. Investigations should establish the facts before sanctions are imposed.”

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“The club and its supporters share the same objective: ensuring tickets are used fairly by genuine Manchester United supporters while protecting the integrity of the ticketing system.”

“That objective will only be achieved through trust, transparency, proportionate enforcement, better-designed systems and meaningful engagement with supporters, not by creating an environment where loyal fans fear losing relationships with the club that have been built over decades.”

MUST highlighted over the weekend that the club had sent “account suspensions and season ticket cancellation notices to thousands of supporters,” stating they have been “overwhelmed with requests for help.”

The supporter groups further urged the club to pause any further suspensions and to stop the cancellation of season tickets while they engage in meaningful discussions.

PA