Fulham Supporters’ Trust hits at out at ‘extortionate’ away ticket prices
Fulham fans who make a late decision to follow their team at Elland Road tonight will be charged £42 by Leeds United.
Tickets booked in advance of the matchday still cost the travelling supporters £37 – which is one of the highest prices in the Championship. The extortionate nature of Leeds’ ticket pricing policy prompted Fulham’s main sponsor, Grosvenor Casinos, to offer free travel to and from Elland Road – but the Fulham Supporters’ Trust have renewed their call for the EFL to consider capping the cost of away tickets along the same lines as the Premier League clubs.
Trust board member Dan Crawford says that Leeds are far from the only offenders in the Championship and the cost of away ticket prices across the division needs to be looked at. ‘Whilst Fulham fans are very grateful for the offer of free travel to and from tonight’s game at Leeds, the price of going to watch a Championship team away from home has become ridiculously high over the last few seasons. With a cap now in place in the Premier League, it seems unfair that Championship fans are regularly having to pay out more than £35 to watch their side on the road.
‘The issue was at the forefront of discussions during last month’s Supporters Summit hosted by Supporters Direct and the Football Supporters’ Federation at St. George’s Park last month, where fans from across the country voiced their disenchantment with rising prices.
‘It was clear from our discussions at the Supporters Summit that the time for a cap on away ticket prices has come,’ added Crawford. ‘Without a commitment from the EFL that they will explore a cap or encourage reciprocal pricing arrangements between their clubs, the regular away travellers – who are responsible for the vibrant atmosphere that makes English football unique – will continue to be penalised for following their team. The Fulham Supporters’ Trust fully supports the FSF’s call for fairer ticket prices and will be working with fans of all clubs over the course of this season to try and make this a reality’.
