By Chris O'Brien
February 26 2007

MUFC supporters were once again exploited on Saturday as their travelling fans were charged a ludicrous £45 to watch their team at Fulham. SU and IMUSA organised a fairly successful protest; but the time for change is here and football supporters everywhere need to stand up and be counted.

£45 - "You're Having a Laugh"

Manchester United fans made their feelings perfectly clear at Craven Cottage on Saturday as supporters groups organised a protest against the scandalous ticket prices the Red Army were charged to watch the 12.45 Premiership clash.

Shareholders United and IMUSA, amongst others, encouraged fans to boycott buying any merchandise, refreshment or other products from the Cottage after all travelling supporters forked out a whopping £45 to watch their team play.

Paying such a huge amount to watch football is disgraceful enough - but when you look at what Fulham have charged other opposition fans this season, the price becomes all the more unbelievable. Travelling Wigan fans were charged just £10 to watch the Latics take on Fulham; whilst the majority of other Premiership clubs have paid only much less than United's band of supporters.

The £45 price also sees a marked increase in ticket price compared to recent seasons. The bottom line is that United supporters are being exploited as a consequence of their team's success. United fans travel in great numbers and sing their hearts out for every single away trip - and Premiership clubs are starting to really take advantage.

Football is being dragged away from the working man and something really has to be done. Fulham are certainly not the only club to completely exploit hardworking United fans; but the £45 charge - 450% more than Wigan fans paid - really was the final straw for many United fans. There were certainly only mini-queues at the burger vans, whilst few United fans seemed to be clutching programmes. All this editor left Craven Cottage with was a copy of Fulham's well-known and rather polite fanzine 'Only One F in Fulham' - a good read, though itself rather pricey at £2.50, and a sense of satisfaction as the Red Devils edged three points closer to the Premiership crown.

Things need to change before football prices itself out of the market and the true supporter is well and truly lost forever. The Football Supporters Federation has launched a petition which outlines potential principles for change including a standardised, across the board price of £15 for away fans (£10 for concessions) travelling to Premiership matches. The petition follows the news that the Premier League has signed the biggest television deal in the history of sport - surely the TV fees can fill in any lost revenue? Surely cheaper tickets will mean better atmospheres, better away followings and start handing the beautiful game back to its beautiful supporters.

It's time for change - sign the petition here.