By Luke Reddy
6 May 2011 13:14:00
Champions League: Schalke 04 – Manchester United, Sir Alex Ferguson (Getty Images)
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Sir Alex Ferguson has thrown his hat into the ring in the debate about ticket costs for the Champions League Final between Manchester United and Barcelona.
As debate begins to rage amongst supporters after the news that tickets were being sold on the black market for up to £7,000, the United boss admits he is clueless as to what can be done to police the problem.
“It’s a killer and a corporate deal, that,” Ferguson told The Mirror. “Managers and players can’t do anything about it. I don’t know what you can do.”
Ticket prices range from £150 for a Category C ticket to £300 for a Category A seat but the fact United have 55,000 season ticket holders and the Catalan giants boast 150,000 members, means demand is at an all-time high for a ticket to football’s biggest club fixture.
It is a problem exacerbated by the fact that each club will only receive 25,000 tickets, with Uefa providing 25,000 tickets to ‘The Football Family’ – a collection of dignitaries, commercial partners and broadcasters.
Mark Longden, of the Independent Manchester United Supporters’ Association (IMUSA), criticised football authorities for a lack of action on policing ticket prices and says the pricing structure simply takes football away from the ordinary fan.
“Genuine fans, who have gone to matches all season home and away, won’t now get the chance to watch the biggest game of them all,” said Longden.
“You have Michel Platini saying the final has been moved to a Saturday to make it more family friendly and then then you see these ticket prices.
“It’s a complete contradiction. But it’s always been the same and I can’t see it ever changing. We keep saying the same thing every year.
“We’ve made overtures to all the authorities over the years regarding ticket allocations, but nothing is done. At every level the game is going away from the ordinary supporter.”
Uefa have vowed to crack down on the touts ahead of the fixture in attempt to protect fans from paying extortionate prices.