Global Look Press
The club identified 1,617 accounts showing unusual activity. Following the investigation, ‘MU’ cancelled 685 season tickets, reports Reuters. A further 464 supporters received lighter sanctions or a final warning.
The club stated that bans were imposed in cases where tickets were used to make a profit. According to Manchester United, organised groups controlled hundreds of accounts and used them to buy, sell and distribute tickets. The club believes that such a scheme prevents ordinary fans from obtaining tickets for matches.
All cancelled season tickets are to be allocated to supporters on the waiting list.
Of the 685 season-ticket holders, 113 did not respond to the club’s enquiries, whilst a further 73 chose not to lodge an appeal. In the remaining 499 cases, the independent appeals board upheld the decisions.
In August, Manchester United announced that an independent firm had found evidence of organised collusion following an analysis of activity on the club’s ticketing platform between March and June.
However, these tough measures have sparked discontent amongst some fans. According to The Independent, the supporters’ group The 1958 has called on fans to protest ahead of the derby. Representatives of the group believe the club should provide evidence of the breaches and review the bans imposed.
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