The issue of the misuse of disabled tickets was brought up during a recent Fans’ Forum. Sam Kelleher, United’s Director of Supporter Services, discussed the problem and revealed worrying complaints about non-disabled supporters allegedly using wheelchairs to gain entry to matches by unofficially purchasing tickets intended for disabled fans. Chas Banks, Secretary of United’s Disabled Supporters’ Association, passionately described how the system has been exploited and the harm it causes.
He cited instances of individuals sitting in a wheelchair on the wheelchair platform for one game, and then standing in the able-bodied section for the next game, which was shared on social media with laughing emojis. He expressed his hope that anyone caught doing this would face the harshest possible sanction. For each away game, the club is allocated a specific number of wheelchair spaces, which can sometimes be as few as ‘five or eight spaces’.
The misuse of these spaces has resulted in genuine disabled fans being deprived of the tickets they are entitled to, which is a victimless crime according to Banks. Additionally, the club’s community members are offered competitions, special offers, promotions, and advertisements from the club and its partners. There is also an option provided for those who wish to leave the community.
Previously, fans were sent their tickets by post, but a new method will remain in place until the end of the season.
