A Manchester United fan group has called for a unified protest against the “season ticket ban fiasco” ahead of Sunday’s derby against Manchester City.
The club’s summer crackdown on ticket touting has put noses out of joint due to a heavy-handed approach that has left many innocent fans facing the threat of sanction.
The 1958 group say a “line has been crossed,” with the headline of its statement urging fans to “stand united” against the “season ticket ban fiasco” in a peaceful protest ahead of this weekend’s game at Old Trafford.
A spokesperson for the fan group said: “Manchester United supporter groups are being called upon to all stand together following reports of bans and season ticket sanctions without clear and compelling evidence always being presented.
“For generations, match-going Reds have given their time, money and loyalty to Manchester United, home and away. That loyalty deserves to be treated with respect.
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“This is not about one group or one individual. It is about how Manchester United treats its match-going supporters. It may not affect you today, it may not next time but that day is coming for all of us.
“All Reds. All groups. One voice. Show the evidence. Lift the bans.”
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The 1958 hopes any previous differences between supporter groups can be put aside, and called for fans to gather outside the Bishop Blaize pub near Old Trafford at 3 p.m. on Sunday.
The supporter group was co-signatory on a statement released in July criticising the club’s actions, including expressing the fan sentiment that it was a case of “ban first and ask questions later”.
United said in August that an independent company had “uncovered significant and organised touting,” having reviewed account activity on the club’s ticketing platform between March and June.
However, the club acknowledged that their ticketing touting investigation had “caused significant concern and distress for some supporters”.
The club said: “Manchester United accepts that the process may have caused distress for some loyal supporters, underestimated how common sharing account usernames and passwords was, and recognises that some fans may have felt they were being treated unfairly.”
