Soccer

Premier League ticket prices to be capped at £30

Clubs agreed unanimously to introduce the cap which will be in place for the next 3 years

Crystal Palace supporters hold up banners about ticket prices at the start of the second half of their Premier League clash with West Brom. Photo: Ian Kington/Getty Images
Crystal Palace supporters hold up banners about ticket prices at the start of the second half of their Premier League clash with West Brom. Photo: Ian Kington/Getty Images
Wed Mar 09 2016 - 13:56

Ticket prices for away fans in the top flight will be capped at £30 for three seasons from next season, the Premier League has announced.

Clubs agreed unanimously to introduce the cap, which follows a string of protests from supporters about the high cost of admission. In a statement released on Wednesday, the Premier League said: “Clubs know that away fans have a unique status. They are essential for match atmosphere and stimulate the response from home fans that distinguishes Barclays Premier League matches from those of other leagues.

“This unique status has long been understood by clubs, who currently provide away fans with a range of measures designed to assist them, including the Away Supporters’ Initiative (ASI), introduced in 2013.”

The ASI led clubs to individually implementing a range of measures, including travel subsidies, reciprocal pricing and reduced admissions as well as improved facilities.

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The league’s statement explained: “At their last meeting on 4 February, 2016, the clubs unanimously agreed that more should be done to help away fans and, after consideration of a range of options, have now decided to introduce the new £30 maximum price for away tickets.”

Supporters groups have been lobbying for a £20 limit but the Premier League chief executive, Richard Scudamore, pushed for £30 as a limit that could gain the support of all its clubs. Under the league’s rules, decisions require the support of at least 14 clubs, but all 20 clubs decided to fall into line.

Clubs have been under growing pressure over ticket prices, particularly in the light of the £5.14bn Premier League TV deal that begins next season. This season there have been various protests by supporters, including the 77th-minute walkout of Liverpool fans during their home match against Sunderland last month that led the club to drop plans for £77 tickets next season, and the ongoing Twenty’s Plenty campaign, led by the Football Supporters Federation, which has discussed coordinating mass walkouts of fans across the Premier League.

(Guardian service)