Manchester United ban 685 ticket accounts in crackdown on touting

Manchester United has banned 685 ticketing accounts and issued warnings or reduced sanctions to a further 464 supporters after a summer-long crackdown on ticket misuse and touting. The Premier League club said an investigation launched in July identified 1,617 accounts showing unusual activity and requiring further review. Season-ticket bans were reportedly applied only where significant misuse of the ticketing system occurred for financial gain. The club said hundreds of cases were closed without punishment when fans provided information explaining the flagged activity, while others received warnings or limited restrictions on ticket forwarding and away-ticket applications. Ahead of Sunday’s derby against Manchester City, the 1958 supporters’ group plans a protest, accusing the club of acting heavy-handedly.