11/02/2015
MPs shine spotlight on MUFC compulsory ACS
It appears MUST's Parliamentary meeting last week is bearing some early fruit. John Leech was one of the MPs MUST met with last week at Westminster and we discussed the ongoing issues over the Compulsory ACS and this specific issue of bannings from the next home game. He said he wanted to bring the issue up in Parliament - so true to his word.
Despite being a Manchester City ST Holder, John (MP for Withington) is a longstanding MUST Patron and has campaigned on fan issues consistently being especially vocal on safe standing and ticket prices.
This is from the Press Association:
Manchester United should stop the "unnecessary and callous punishment" of a stadium ban for season ticket holders who do not buy cup tickets, MPs say.
The Red Devils have come under fire for using a scheme which obliges thousands of supporters to buy tickets for home cup ties or face being shut out from the next Premier League home game.
Liberal Democrat sports spokesman John Leech said the ticket scheme should be voluntary rather than automatic, with fans having already paid to watch the league games.
He also noted ticket prices for United's FA Cup replay with League Two Cambridge United ranged from £31 to £53 for adults, adding this placed a financial burden on fans who "may be unable or not wish to attend the game".
Conservative former minister Sir Peter Bottomley (Worthing West) has backed the call for change, which has been outlined in an early day motion tabled in Parliament by Manchester City season ticket holder Mr Leech.
An EDM is a formal motion submitted for debate in the House of Commons although very few are actually debated.
The EDM states: "That this House notes that the Manchester United automatic cup scheme obliges season ticket holders to buy tickets for home cup ties.
"(It) further notes that the punishment for not doing so is a stadium ban for the next Premier League home game, even though such games have already been paid for.
"(It) further notes that tickets for the FA Cup replay against League Two Cambridge United on February 3, 2015, ranged from £31 to £53 for adults and that the date for this tie was only confirmed eight days before the match.
"(It) recognises that this additional cost at such late notice is a financial burden on fans who may be unable or not wish to attend the game.
"(It) further recognises that the enforcement of a one-game stadium ban upon supporters who do not wish to or cannot afford to attend an extra mid-week match is an unnecessary and callous punishment.
"(It) further notes that the voluntary cup schemes offered by other clubs both provide season ticket holders with flexibility in match attendance and enable non-regular attendees to see football in their place.
"(It) condemns the policy of any football club forcing season ticket holders to sign-up to compulsory ticket purchases for cup ties, and calls on Manchester United FC to remove this clause from its terms and conditions and replace it with a Voluntary Cup Scheme."