685 accounts blocked! Manchester United launch major ticket touting crackdown
Manchester United are taking a hard line against those trying to profit from the club's ticketing system.
Details: Manchester United have revealed the results of a major review of ticket account activity carried out over the summer. According to Reuters, the English club blocked 685 accounts over breaches linked to ticket resale and the use of the system for financial gain.
The investigation was launched in July after the club identified 1,617 accounts showing unusual activity that required additional checks. Manchester United stressed that the toughest sanctions were reserved for cases where significant abuse of the ticketing system for profit had been established.
A further 464 supporters received less severe sanctions. These included formal warnings as well as restrictions on transferring tickets or applying for tickets to away matches. Some of the other cases were closed after supporters provided explanations for the activity detected on their accounts.
The measures have nevertheless caused tension among part of the fanbase. Supporters' group The 1958 criticised the club's approach as excessively harsh and plans to stage a protest ahead of the Manchester derby against Manchester City.
Manchester United said the review also helped identify organised networks involved in trading tickets through hundreds of different accounts, with the club continuing its campaign against unauthorised resale.
It is worth noting that Manchester United's next Premier League match is the Manchester derby against Manchester City at Old Trafford on September 13.
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