Newcastle United cancelled tickets bought by a Dundee school for the Barcelona match due to unauthorized reselling. The club has cancelled the season tickets of those involved and will make the tickets available to Newcastle United supporters through the club’s existing ticket sale process.
In a move that has sparked outrage among Newcastle United supporters, the club has cancelled a block of tickets purchased by a school nearly 200 miles away for their highly anticipated Champions League home fixture against Barcelona. The decision comes amidst a crackdown on unauthorized ticket reselling, leaving the High School of Dundee and genuine fans disappointed.
The High School of Dundee had acquired 45 tickets for the Group Stage match scheduled for September 18th at St James' Park. The school stated that it had purchased these tickets in good faith, claiming they were "approached" with the offer. However, Newcastle United's investigation revealed that the tickets originated from season ticket holders who were illicitly reselling their seats.
"Newcastle United have cancelled tickets purchased by a school nearly 200 miles away for the Champions League home game against Barcelona."
The incident has ignited fury among the Newcastle United faithful, particularly after a staggering 110,000 fans found themselves in an online queue vying for the remaining tickets just days prior. Lisa Mole, chair of the Newcastle United Supporters Trust, expressed her dismay, stating that she was "stung" by the situation.
In response to the unauthorized reselling, Newcastle United has taken swift and decisive action. A club spokesman confirmed that "The relevant season tickets have also been cancelled with immediate effect and without refund." The club aims to ensure that tickets are accessible to genuine supporters through the official channels, reaffirming their commitment to fair distribution.
The cancelled tickets will be re-released and made available to Newcastle United supporters through the club's existing ticket sale process, giving those who missed out initially another chance to witness the Champions League clash against Barcelona. The club has reiterated its zero-tolerance stance on ticket touting, emphasizing the importance of protecting the interests of loyal fans.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the lengths some individuals will go to profit from the high demand for football tickets. Newcastle United's prompt response sends a clear message that such practices will not be tolerated. As the club prepares for its return to the Champions League stage, they remain committed to ensuring that the passionate support from genuine fans is rewarded.
The controversy underscores the challenges faced by clubs in managing ticket distribution and combating the secondary market. With demand often far exceeding supply, unauthorized reselling can deprive genuine fans of the opportunity to attend matches and create an unfair system. Newcastle United's actions demonstrate their determination to address these issues and protect the integrity of the ticketing process.
As Newcastle United gears up for their Champions League campaign, the focus remains on the pitch. However, the club is also acutely aware of the need to maintain a fair and transparent ticketing system. The cancellation of the Dundee school's tickets sends a strong message to potential touts and reaffirms the club's commitment to prioritizing genuine supporters.
The club has stated that there will be further investigation into the matter and any other season ticket holders found to be reselling their tickets without permission will have their season ticket cancelled immediately without refund.
More to follow.