Football too expensive for working class fans – MP

An independent regulator should have a role in setting football ticket prices because top-flight matches are often too expensive for working class supporters to attend, an MP has claimed.

Labour’s Ian Byrne, who represents Liverpool West Derby, told fellow MPs: “The reality is that prices are far too high already, especially for younger fans”.

Referring to Liverpool sealing their 20th top-flight title on Sunday, Byrne said: “I witnessed thousands of working class supporters, young working class supporters, priced out of Anfield, with some tickets going for over £1, 000”.

Byrne, who was speaking during a House of Commons debate of the second reading of the Football Governance Bill, added: “We need to tackle the issue of the pricing out of working class supporters”.

Byrne told MPs he was concerned that some top-flight clubs were reducing the number of season tickets available.

An FSA spokesman said this was a covert way for clubs to charge premium prices for the biggest games.

Under the bill, an Independent Football Regulator (IFR) would be created to oversee clubs in the top five tiers of men’s football, ensure their financial sustainability, protect club heritage, and facilitate better fan engagements.

Byrne urged Culture Media and Sport Secretary Lisa Nandy to consider two amendments.

Firstly, he said he wanted the IFR to be involved in ticket pricing decisions, and to provide updates in periodic “State of Football” reports.

The aim would be to ensure fans have genuine input into their club’s ticketing policy through structured engagement.

Secondly, Byrne said the IFR should undertake a thorough review of concessionary ticket prices across the game to ensure that loyal fans of all ages are not priced out of their sport. Regular progress reports should again be provided, he said.

“We cannot allow the greed of some owners with no idea of how important]the] working class game is to the very communities that it should always serve”.

Liverpool FC said it had frozen prices for the past eight out of 10 years.

The cheapest Kop match ticket is still £39 while the most expensive remains at £45, “exactly the same as they were almost 15 years ago”, the club said.