Premier League: Manchester United, Manchester City, Arsenal black market tickets

BBC
BBC
3M ago
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A BBC investigation reveals a thriving black market for Premier League tickets, with illegal sales undermining fan access and safety.
Premier League: Manchester United, Manchester City, Arsenal black market tickets
A What happened
A recent BBC investigation has exposed a widespread black market for Premier League tickets, revealing that unauthorized companies are selling tickets at exorbitant prices, often two to four times their face value. The investigation highlighted how these companies, based abroad, utilize memberships and software to acquire tickets in bulk from clubs' online platforms. Despite the illegality of ticket resale in the UK, the investigation successfully purchased tickets for several sold-out matches, raising alarms about the impact on genuine fans. The Premier League's unauthorized list includes over 50 websites, and concerns are growing about the safety risks posed by rival fans sitting together. Clubs have responded by canceling thousands of memberships, but the scale of the issue remains significant, with many fans reporting denied entry after purchasing tickets from these sites. The Football Supporters' Association has called the situation

Key insights

  • 1

    Endemic Ticket Resale: The black market for tickets is described as endemic in English football.

  • 2

    Unauthorized Sellers: Over 50 websites are listed as unauthorized ticket sellers by the Premier League.

  • 3

    Safety Concerns: The resale market raises potential safety threats due to rival fans sitting together.

Takeaways

The findings underscore the urgent need for stronger measures against ticket touting in football.

Topics

Sports Football

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