Joint Statement Supporting Fans Forum

Unity Against Draconian Ticket Sanctions

We fully support the Manchester United Fans’ Forum letter and the principles it sets out.

The issues raised are not about defending ticket touting or abuse of the Club’s ticketing system.

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. That is not how trust is built, nor is it consistent with the standards of fairness that loyal supporters should expect from their football club. Investigations should establish the facts before sanctions are imposed, particularly where the potential consequence is the loss of a Season Ticket and relationships with the Club built over many decades.

The Fans’ Forum has rightly called on the Club to pause the issuing of further suspensions and to halt any cancellation of Season Tickets while meaningful discussions take place. We fully support that request. Taking time to review the current approach, engage with supporter representatives and restore confidence is in the interests of both the Club and its supporters.

The principles outlined in the Fans’ Forum letter recognise something fundamental. 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.

This is also a significant moment for supporter representation.

For the first time, supporter organisations from across the fanbase have come together to support a common position. While each group has its own perspective and priorities, we are united by our commitment to protecting Manchester United, its supporters and the unique supporter culture that has been built over generations.

When genuine supporters face issues that affect supporter culture, fan representation, affordability, ticketing or the future of the match-going experience, we will continue to work together wherever possible. A united supporter movement is stronger, more representative and better placed to protect the interests of current and future generations of Manchester United supporters.