Fans blast Man Utd's "kick in the teeth" price rise

Manchester United supporters are outraged after the club announced matchday ticket prices could soar to £97 - a 47% increase from last season's £66 maximum. The controversial pricing strategy comes on the heels of United's worst domestic campaign in nearly 50 years.

New Four-Tier Pricing Structure

The club has introduced a four-category pricing system for approximately 20,000 available matchday tickets:

• Category A (£97): Matches against Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Newcastle, and Tottenham
• Category B: Mid-range pricing for select fixtures
• Category C (£37): Games against Sunderland and Wolves
• Cup Games: Lowest pricing reserved exclusively for some cup matches

Club officials claim the £97 tickets represent less than 1% of available seats, but this has done little to appease angry fans.

Fan Backlash and Broken Promises

The Manchester United Supporters Trust (MUST) has strongly condemned the price hikes:

"After last season's disaster, this is a fresh kick in the teeth for loyal supporters. We urged the club to maintain current pricing for most matches and only apply premium pricing for a handful of big games."

"Once again, they've made decisions without proper fan consultation, against the interests of both supporters and the club's long-term health."

Fans argue the timing couldn't be worse, coming after:

• The team's worst Premier League finish in history (15th place)
• A mid-season 2022-23 pricing debacle where all tickets were suddenly priced at £66
• Public promises from new CEO Omar Berrada about improving fan relations

Broader Premier League Context

While United defends the move as standard practice among Premier League clubs, comparisons reveal:

• Four clubs charged more than £97 last season (Fulham topped at £160)
• Many rivals maintain more gradual pricing tiers
• Few implemented such dramatic single-season increases

The club maintains these changes are necessary for financial sustainability, but with stadium atmosphere already suffering, many fear this could further alienate the fanbase during a critical rebuilding period.

As new head coach Ruben Amorim recently pleaded, "We need everyone sticking together to move forward." This pricing decision tests that unity before the season even begins.