A six-year-old Manchester United supporter has faced season ticket restrictions following the club’s initiative to prevent ticket touting. Katie, the boy’s mother, explained that she managed ticket applications for a group of 19 family members and friends who sit together at Old Trafford. Because the group members often needed assistance with digital platforms, she helped manage their accounts from her home.
The club notified the family that Ruari’s account showed signs of being centrally controlled due to repeated access patterns alongside other accounts. Although Katie appealed the decision and insisted that no tickets were sold for profit or handled by unauthorized third parties, the club maintained the restrictions. Man Utd officials stated the decision followed a thorough review, though they did not provide specific evidence of bot usage or unauthorized reselling.
Katie, who has held her own season ticket for nearly two decades, expressed frustration over the situation, noting that her son has been a lifelong supporter and previously served as a club mascot. While Manchester United declined to discuss this specific case, the club noted that its broader efforts to curb ticket abuse recovered over 14,000 tickets during the previous season.
