Foot & Soccer Soccer Match Reports, Football News 
March 31 – Manchester Metropolis followers have accused the membership of being “tone deaf” after asserting a world partnership with ticket resale big Viagogo – a transfer that has reignited fears over hovering costs, ticket touting, and away followers infiltrating residence sections on the Etihad.
Viagogo, already one of the vital controversial names in ticket resales, will function Metropolis’s official international market for hospitality tickets after a deal between the 2 was introduced on Thursday. Whereas commonplace match tickets will not be a part of the deal, supporters concern that is one more step in the direction of additional commercialisation on the expense of loyal followers – significantly as Metropolis have but to verify season-ticket costs for 2025-26.
Metropolis supporter teams 1894, Commerce Union Blues, and MCFC Followers Foodbank have hit again exhausting, calling for a nine-minute boycott of the membership’s Premier League conflict in opposition to Leicester on Wednesday.
They argue that Metropolis are undermining their very own ticket alternate system, risking much more away followers shopping for seats in residence sections – a rising downside that has already seen over 165 ticketing accounts banned this season, 354 suspended, and 223 positioned below monitoring.
Their joint assertion condemned the transfer: “Away followers acquiring tickets in residence areas has triggered issues of safety and mistrust amongst supporters who’re unwilling to make use of the membership’s [official] ticket alternate in concern of the place their ticket will find yourself – one more ticket accomplice might solely add to this.”
Piling on extra frustration, Metropolis haven’t responded to an open letter from seven supporter teams on ticket pricing, submitted seven weeks in the past.
Even Metropolis Issues, the membership’s official fan advisory board, has voiced its discontent. “To signal a ninth partnership with a ticket resale platform is extremely tone deaf given the energy of concern,” stated chair Alex Howell.
For Metropolis, the partnership marks the newest step in an aggressive business technique that has seen them construct an intensive portfolio of ticketing partnerships. Viagogo, in contrast to the opposite ticket resale companions, now has official standing—that means further promoting rights and promotional entry.
The membership argues that hospitality tickets bought by way of Viagogo might be price-capped and shielded from dynamic pricing, however this does little to quell fears that company pursuits are being prioritised over fan affordability. The deal additionally places them in direct opposition to an ongoing UK authorities session on capping resale ticket costs, in addition to scrutiny from the Competitors and Markets Authority (CMA), which has beforehand known as for tighter controls on firms like Viagogo.
Talking on the unveiling of the partnership on Thursday, Danny Wilson, managing director of Manchester Metropolis Operations, stated: “By working intently with Viagogo all through this partnership, we can provide a safe, protected choice for followers to buy hospitality on this means, enhancing entry and finest practices alongside the way in which alongside our present ticketing infrastructure.”
The controversy comes at a time when the broader Premier League’s ticket touting issues proceed to collect tempo. Based on studies, touts management between 8,000 and 12,000 season tickets, memberships, and hospitality seats at high golf equipment – feeding a £50 million-a-year black market. Some touts reportedly function with greater than 1,000 membership memberships, having access to huge numbers of tickets earlier than reselling them at closely inflated costs.
Metropolis are unlikely to reverse course, however the backlash is rising and fan teams are mobilising, Metropolis Issues has scheduled an emergency assembly for later this week, and the broader debate round ticket pricing and availability continues to accentuate throughout the Premier League.
Contact the author of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1743447961labto1743447961ofdlr1743447961owedi1743447961sni@g1743447961niwe.1743447961yrrah1743447961
