Premier League to Not Intervene with Ticket Prices

The Premier League has revealed they will not intervene in setting ticket prices following criticism that fans are being priced out of the game.

The issue was triggered this week when Manchester City returned 912 unsold tickets, priced at £62, for Sunday’s Premier League meeting with Arsenal at Emirates Stadium. 

The issue has sparked calls for a potential capping of prices, but the Premier League insists tickets are a matter for individual clubs.

The body does, though, encourage “stretch pricing”, where a range of different prices are offered to cater for those on lower budgets. 

A spokesman said: “Ticket pricing is a matter for individual clubs, many of which work hard to fill their stadiums with offers at different points during a season that make top-flight football accessible to large numbers of fans. 

“We have always encouraged stretch pricing to help accessibility, and it is against Premier League rules to charge away fans more than home fans for the same standard of seats. 

“The quality and safety of stadia is as a result of extensive and continued investment from the clubs. 

“Fans clearly enjoy the environment in which they watch Premier League matches and the football on offer, with occupancy rates at grounds tracking at 95% for this season and having been 90%-plus for the last 15 seasons in a row.”