The Manchester United Supporters’ Trust (MUST) has addressed an open letter to minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe following the uproar caused by the recent hike in ticket prices at Old Trafford.
Ratcliffe, Britain’s wealthiest man at 72, faced significant backlash from United fans after increasing ticket prices to £66 last month. Defending the decision, he argued that Manchester United should not charge less than their Premier League rivals, including Fulham.
This decision sparked outrage among fans, who directed their frustration at Ratcliffe during Manchester United’s narrow 1-0 victory over Fulham on Sunday. While he was spotted at Craven Cottage, chants from the Red Devils’ faithful compared him to the unpopular Glazer family.
Fans sang, “Jim Ratcliffe’s a ct, just like the Glazers, Jim Ratcliffe’s a ct,” expressing their anger at the decision and its similarity to policies under the Glazers’ regime.
MUST responded by issuing an open letter urging Ratcliffe to reconsider the ticket price hike and put an end to what they called “the war on season ticket holders.” The Trust emphasized that this was the “worst possible time” to implement such changes, highlighting how they could negatively impact fan sentiment, the stadium atmosphere, and team performance.
United supporters had initially welcomed Ratcliffe and his Ineos group taking over the club’s sporting operations from the Glazers in 2023, but relations have soured. Recent austerity measures have only added fuel to the fire.
The club has made significant budget cuts, including laying off 250 staff members, reducing wages for club legends and ambassadors, and even dismissing Sir Alex Ferguson from his role. Funding for a charity that supports former players has also been slashed, as exclusively revealed by SunSport.
Manchester United’s management claims these measures are necessary to strengthen the club’s financial position, as the club has recorded losses exceeding £300 million over the last three years.
However, the mounting discontent among fans suggests a growing divide between Ratcliffe’s leadership and the passionate supporter base that drives the club’s legacy.
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