Manchester City supporters have intensified their criticism after the club announced a global partnership with third-party ticket resale platform Viagogo, despite ongoing concerns over pricing and fan safety. While the deal applies only to hospitality tickets—not standard matchday tickets—fans fear it will lead to further exploitation and disruption at the Etihad Stadium.

Fan Backlash and Safety Concerns

Several supporter groups, including 1894, Trade Union Blues, and MCFC Fans Foodbank, released a scathing statement calling the move 'tone deaf', citing:

• Away fans infiltrating home sections, causing safety issues.
• Distrust in the club’s official ticket exchange due to lack of transparency.
• Past issues with touting, including 165 banned accounts this season alone.

The groups have planned a nine-minute boycott protest during City’s match against Leicester on April 2, rallying under the slogan 'Football without fans is nothing.'

Unanswered Demands and Rising Tensions

The Viagogo deal follows unresolved grievances, including:

• No response to a fan coalition’s open letter on ticket pricing (sent seven weeks ago).
• Delays in announcing 2025-26 season-ticket prices, which prompted the City Matters fan board to strike for weeks.

Alex Howell, chair of City Matters, told BBC Sport: 'Signing a ninth resale partnership ignores well-founded concerns—especially about price gouging and this specific platform.'

The Wider Debate: Are Resale Platforms Exploitative?

The Football Supporters’ Association (FSA) questioned why clubs partner with third-party resellers instead of in-house systems that cap prices at face value. Key critiques:

• Viagogo’s business model profits from inflated prices, contrary to fan interests.
• Clubs penalize fans for reselling tickets personally while endorsing corporate resellers.

Club and Regulatory Responses

Manchester City defended the deal, stating:

• Viagogo sales are capped at fixed prices (no dynamic pricing).
• Tickets are drawn from existing hospitality allocations, not general admission.

Meanwhile, UK authorities are scrutinizing resale platforms:

• The Competition and Markets Authority (2021) called for stricter rules.
• The government is consulting on price caps for resold tickets.

Fan Power vs. Commercial Interests

This clash highlights growing tension between modern football’s commercialization and supporter welfare. With protests mounting and regulatory changes looming, City’s next steps could set a Premier League precedent.

BBC Sport reached out to Viagogo for comment but received no response.