Newcastle United have cancelled a number of tickets for the UEFA Champions League match with FC Barcelona due to a "breach of season ticket terms and conditions."
The move, which has seen a number of memberships and season tickets cancelled, comes after a school in Dundee was able to buy 45 tickets for the opening game before thousands of loyal fans had the chance.
The club's decisive action is a clear statement of intent.
The cancellations are the latest chapter in a long-running saga over ticket pricing and availability, which has caused immense frustration for the club's passionate supporters.
With the club in the Champions League for the first time in over 20 years, the demand for tickets has been at an all-time high, and the club has been forced to take drastic action.
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The details of the ticket cancellations
According to a club spokesperson, Newcastle United has cancelled a number of tickets for the Champions League match with FC Barcelona after a number of season ticket holders were found to have resold their tickets on unauthorised websites.
The tickets in question were bought by a school in Dundee for £295 each.
The club has confirmed that it does not have any authorised resellers and that the only way to sell season ticket seats is through the club's official platform at face value.
The tickets in question have been cancelled, and the season tickets of the fans who sold them have also been cancelled without refund.
The club has also confirmed that they are watching around 4,500 membership accounts for suspicious activity.
What the club’s action means for fans
The club's decisive action, while a major step, has been met with a mixed reaction from fans.
While many are happy that the club is cracking down on touting, others have criticised the club's overall ticket policy.
The Fan Advisory Board and other fan groups have been vocal in their criticism of the club's recent price hikes, stating that they are "incredibly disappointed" by the news of another 5% increase.
The club's ex-chief executive Darren Eales had stated that the decision to raise prices was "unavoidable" in a world of PSR regulations, but many fans believe the club is not doing enough to ensure that tickets are available and affordable for local supporters.
The club's action on touting is a welcome move, but it is clear that the club has more work to do to resolve its ticket policy issues.
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