Man U Season ticket holders told to buy cup ticket or miss..

Manchester United's most loyal fans have been told they must buy tickets for the Champions League tie against Olympiacos at Old Trafford next month – or be excluded from the Manchester derby a week later.

The news will cause yet more consternation among supporters who have seen their team lurch from one calamity to another this season, culminating in Tuesday’s shocking 2-0 first-leg defeat in Greece.

Even though United’s hopes of a progressing are slim, emails had already been sent out to season ticket holders reminding them to buy their tickets for the second leg on March 19 by 8pm Wednesday night or serve a one-match ‘suspension’ when City play at Old Trafford on March 25.

Those seats are then made available to other fans in the members’ ballot. If they are sold, the season ticket holder can apply for a refund but only at the end of the season.

The current system, introduced at the start of last season, is actually less stringent than before when fans who did not pay to watch additional cup ties had their season tickets cancelled with no refund.

It was one of the issues that led to the Manchester United Supporters Trust filing a complaint with the Office of Fair Trading in 2008, accusing the club of abusing its position.

United subsequently revised their policy to ensure that a season ticket would ensure a seat at all league and cup games at Old Trafford, and promised to be more transparent in its dealings with supporters.

UNITED'S REMAINING HOME GAMES
Sun March 16: v Liverpool
Wed March 19: v Olympiacos
Tue 25 Mar: v Man City
Sat March 29: v Aston Villa
Sat April 12: v Hull
Sat April 26: v Norwich
Sat May 3: v Sunderland

Fans are no longer obligated to buy tickets for League Cup games, although the club warn that failure to do so will hinder their chances of acquiring tickets for away games and prestige fixtures like cup semi-finals and finals.

Last week United came under fire after it emerged that fans could be charged Champions League prices even if David Moyes’s side are only in the Europa League next season.

However, it is understood that a final decision has to yet to be made over whether the same rules and prices would apply.

The email from United’s ticketing and membership services department read: ‘The deadline to buy your ticket for Olympiacos FC is Wednesday 26th February 2014 at 8pm.

'Please note that not buying this ticket will result in your Season Ticket being suspended for the Manchester City game. We look forward to hearing from your shortly.’

It is part of the controversial Automatic Cup Scheme brought in by United’s American owners which has caused widespread anger among supporters in the past.

By purchasing a season ticket to watch 19 Premier League games at Old Trafford, fans are contractually obligated to buy additional tickets for Champions League and FA Cup fixtures or lose their seat for one home league game.

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Poor old man utd fans...........i wish we were 6th in the league and being forced to buy a champions league ticket.

Poor old man utd fans...........i wish we were 6th in the league and being forced to buy a champions league ticket.

I think it's disgusting that a season ticket holder is threatened to be 'suspended' for a league match unless they purchase a cup ticket.

Poor old man utd fans...........i wish we were 6th in the league and being forced to buy a champions league ticket.

I think it's disgusting that a season ticket holder is threatened to be 'suspended' for a league match unless they purchase a cup ticket.

Fukin scandalous, surely they can't get away with that ?

How the hell are they even getting away with that?

Surely, if you've ordered a ST, that's a ticket for that game bought and they simply can't give it away.

Poor old man utd fans...........i wish we were 6th in the league and being forced to buy a champions league ticket.

I think it's disgusting that a season ticket holder is threatened to be 'suspended' for a league match unless they purchase a cup ticket.

Fukin scandalous, surely they can't get away with that ?

its written into the season ticket contract...............

Its a sellers market.

Im not excising it but the power lays with the club while demand is so high.

I honestly can't see how they can get away with it, surely the Premier League bosses won't let United do this.

Owners of football clubs nowadays have no respect for the fans at all, yet they expect us to be loyal.

I honestly can't see how they can get away with it, surely the Premier League bosses won't let United do this.

Owners of football clubs nowadays have no respect for the fans at all, yet they expect us to be loyal.

Seeing as they've done it for years I would suggest otherwise.

I'm pretty sure Arsenal and a few other clubs do the same.

That's disgusting, Football really has gone to the dog in this country.

That's ridiculous. Must be some hidden rule in their terms and conditions.

be careful what you wish for i think the saying is ...

Poor old man utd fans...........i wish we were 6th in the league and being forced to buy a champions league ticket.

Next year

I honestly can't see how they can get away with it, surely the Premier League bosses won't let United do this.

Owners of football clubs nowadays have no respect for the fans at all, yet they expect us to be loyal.

Seeing as they've done it for years I would suggest otherwise.

I'm pretty sure Arsenal and a few other clubs do the same.

Quite a few cup games are actually included with an Arsenal season ticket, think it was 5, still a rinse though.

I honestly can't see how they can get away with it, surely the Premier League bosses won't let United do this.

Owners of football clubs nowadays have no respect for the fans at all, yet they expect us to be loyal.

Seeing as they've done it for years I would suggest otherwise.

I'm pretty sure Arsenal and a few other clubs do the same.

Quite a few cup games are actually included with an Arsenal season ticket, think it was 5, still a rinse though.

The price of the Arsenal ST will reflect that though, especially as they only keep 45% of domestic cup gate income.

Be nice to see it done for the Carling Cup and FA Cup for us. Fans underestimate the cup these days due to Football moving forward.

I think a system where non ST holders have to buy a ticket for a cup match or 'lesser' league fixture to be able to get a ticket for one of the 'glamour fixtures' would work well. But to ban ST holders from a game for which they've already paid as part of their ST package is ridiculous and shouldn't be allowed.

I think a system where non ST holders have to buy a ticket for a cup match or 'lesser' league fixture to be able to get a ticket for one of the 'glamour fixtures' would work well. But to ban ST holders from a game for which they've already paid as part of their ST package is ridiculous and shouldn't be allowed.

Agree with you.

Thats outrageous! Suppose you can't make the cup tie due to work commitments - you still have to buy a ticket or you are suspended for a game a week later you have already paid for a year in advance?!

i'd take the bastards to court

Modern football, it's just gets worse & worse for us customers.

I read it as an opt in scheme where the fan commits to buying these tickets. Failure to buy after cimmitting will see a one game suspension to recover the cost of a ticket for one game.

If you opt in or sign up to this then lets be honest, MUFC are well within their rights. Read what you agree to before complaining.

no wonder a lot of true hardcore united fans dont watch them anymore thats one of the reasons why fc united of manchester was formed so by suspended them for one game and it just happens tob the man city game they know other fans who arenotst holders will snap them up in a ballot so they are making money again by selling the the person ticket which was already been bought would they had done it if it was fulham home i dont thinks so where the hell do they think people get money from after there display the other night they should be paying the united fans to watch the second leg.