In an unprecedented display of solidarity, fans of bitter rivals Manchester United, Everton, Liverpool, and Manchester City are joining forces this Sunday to protest the relentless rise in ticket prices that threatens to price out even the most loyal supporters. The coordinated demonstrations, organized by fan groups under the banner of the Football Supporters’ Association’s “Stop Exploiting Loyalty” campaign, aim to send a clear message to club owners and the Premier League: enough is enough.
The protests come in the same week that the Premier League announced a staggering 17% increase in broadcast rights, securing deals worth a record £12.25bn. Yet despite this windfall, which further diminishes the significance of general admission ticket revenue to club finances, all but one Premier League team raised prices last season. Most recently, Manchester United revealed that all new tickets for children and older fans at Old Trafford will now cost £66, a move that has sparked outrage among supporters.
A United Front Against Greed
At 1:30pm on Sunday, representatives from Manchester United fan group FC58 will gather with their Everton counterparts and members of Fans Supporting Foodbanks at the iconic Trinity statue outside Old Trafford. They will unveil a “Stop Exploiting Loyalty” banner to highlight their shared struggle. Simultaneously, Liverpool’s Spirit of Shankly group will convene with Manchester City’s 1894 Group and MCFC Fans Foodbank Support at Anfield’s foodbank collection point to display the same message.
“Football does not have a revenue problem; it has a spending problem – and loyal supporters should not bear the cost,” the joint fan statement declared.
The groups argue that with the huge influx of broadcast cash, clubs can more than afford to keep prices affordable for the working-class fans who have long formed the backbone of the English game. Instead, ticket costs continue to soar, while long-standing concessions are quietly eliminated.
Away Fans Under Threat
Of particular concern is the growing trend of clubs chipping away at one of the few remaining safeguards for traveling supporters: the £30 cap on away tickets in the Premier League. Many dedicated fans make significant financial sacrifices to follow their team around the country, and any erosion of this protection could be the final straw.
While televised football has become a global commodity, the live match experience remains the beating heart of the sport. The unique atmospheres created by passionate supporters in packed terraces and stands have long been the envy of leagues around the world. But as ticket prices climb ever higher, there are fears that this vibrant fan culture could become a casualty of unchecked commercialization.
The Bigger Picture
The supporter groups emphasize that their concerns go beyond individual clubs or rivalries. This is a systemic issue that threatens the very fabric of the English game. By pricing out young fans and those on lower incomes, clubs risk losing generations of future supporters and eroding the diverse, participatory culture that has made football the national obsession.
“As fans, we have far more that unites us than divides us,” noted one Spirit of Shankly representative. “This is about preserving the soul of the game we all love.”
The protest organizers are under no illusions that their actions will prompt an immediate about-face from clubs or the league. But by joining forces and shining a spotlight on the issue, they hope to start a long-overdue conversation about the game’s future and the responsibility of those who run it to safeguard its accessibility and integrity.
Reclaiming the People’s Game
Football has always been a mirror of society, reflecting its hopes, dreams, and fault lines. The current ticket price crisis is no different, highlighting growing inequalities and the creeping influence of corporate interests. But as Sunday’s protests demonstrate, supporters are no longer content to simply grin and bear it.
By transcending tribal loyalties and standing together, these fans are fighting for something bigger than any one match or season. They are battling to reclaim football as the people’s game, accessible to all those who give it meaning and vitality. In an era when the sport often seems more business than pleasure, it is a struggle that will define the soul of the beautiful game for generations to come.
As the old saying goes, football without fans is nothing. This weekend, those fans are making their voices heard loud and clear. The question is: will those in power finally listen?
