Liverpool supporters’ groups salute ‘unprecedented’ tickets U-turn

Liverpool supporters’ groups have hailed the “unprecedented” move by the club’s owners to reverse their decision on price increases.

An estimated 10,000 fans walked out of Anfield on Saturday in protest at next season’s proposed hike, which would have heralded a new £77 (€100) match ticket and £1,000 (€1,288) season ticket as well as increases for around a third of all season ticket holders.

That action was noticed by Liverpool’s owners Fenway Sports Group and they have responded by announcing a freeze on prices, decategorising matches and making £9 (€11.60) tickets available for all games with an allocation of 10,000 over the whole season.

They also apologised for getting it wrong in an open letter to fans from principal owner John W Henry and chairman Tom Werner.

“If I am really honest I am not sure we can put it into words — we did not expect this,” Spirit of Shankly spokesman Jay McKenna said.

“It is unprecedented that they have apologised, remarkable. It is the right approach from the club that they apologised for the mistake.”

In a statement Spirit of Shankly also added: “Today’s announcement has to be seen as a positive step in repairing the relationship between owners and supporters.

“If they had recognised what was being said by supporters about the impact of the original price rises (perhaps by actually meeting with their own Ticketing Working Group) then much of the embarrassment and upset of the last four days would have been avoided.”