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Manchester United fans are planning further protests against the club’s ownership in the forthcoming season, Mail Sport understands.
Earlier this month, it emerged that the Premier League giants were considering bringing in a controversial personal seat licence system (PSL) should they move to a new stadium, which would see fans charged up to £4,000 simply for the right to buy a season ticket.
That prospect has triggered more anger among large sections of the fanbase, who have already launched a series of protests against the Glazer family and Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Ineos group.
And it can now be disclosed that they are planning further, large-scale demonstrations in a move which may come as a blow to United officials hoping to build on the optimism triggered by the arrivals of summer signings Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo and some encouraging performances from Ruben Amorim’s men on their US tours they seek to improve on last season’s 15th-placed finish.
Supporters’ group The 1958 claim the introduction of PSLs – which United are adamant has only been explored hypothetically – would ‘force out supporters who have followed the club for decades’ and represent ‘another step towards the Americanisation of our game’. While United would be the first Premier League club to utilise such a system they are commonplace in the NFL.
They also say the fact that US-based CSL International raised the prospect with fans during a consultation over the stadium ‘shows just how out of touch our club and owners have become’.
A Manchester United supporters' group are planning further protests in the coming season
The group's anger stems from reports suggesting United could implement a controversial personal seat licence system
United are adamant that the the plans for a PSL scheme at their new stadium have only been explored hypothetically
A number of protests were held around United matches last season. In March, thousands joined the biggest anti-ownership demonstration since Ratcliffe took a near 30 per cent stake in the club. They hit out at ticket price rises and designs for the new stadium, which they claimed resembled a ‘circus’.
A spokesperson for the group said: ‘The 1958 are fervently against personal ticket licenses. This will force out supporters who have followed our club for decades home and away. It will price out the youth, local communities, and generations of loyal fans. It’s another step towards the Americanisation of our game which is ripping football away from its working-class roots, showing just how out of touch our club and owners have become.
‘This isn’t about the game or the supporters - it’s about profit and greed over loyalty and tradition.
‘We don’t believe a word the club say. United are a sounding board for all other clubs. Their actions prove their intentions. We will be campaigning hard against this.’
