MPs warn Premier League clubs ‘football without fans is nothing’ amid concerns over rising ticket prices | OneFootball

A group of MPs has voiced significant concerns over football clubs’ practice of increasing ticket prices for their most loyal supporters, warning that such substantial rises pose an "existential threat" to the sport’s culture and community.

An Early Day Motion (EDM), spearheaded by Labour MP Ian Byrne and backed by 16 signatories, directly addresses the issue.

The motion urges clubs to engage meaningfully with their fanbase on pricing, asserting: "Football without fans is nothing."

It highlights "serious concerns at the trend of annual ticket price increases for Premier League football, as highlighted by the Football Supporters’ Association’s Stop Exploiting Loyalty campaign”, fearing that "squeezing local and dedicated fans poses an existential threat to the culture and community of football."

The Football Supporters’ Association (FSA) has called for Premier League clubs to freeze season ticket prices for the upcoming season as part of its ‘Protect the Fans, Protect the Game’ initiative.

open image in gallery

Ian Byrne, the Labour MP for Liverpool, West Derby, wants Liverpool and Everton to freeze their ticket prices (Peter Byrne/PA) (PA Archive)

However, Arsenal has already announced a 3.9 per cent increase for 2026-27, alongside a new Category A+ ticket, a move specifically referenced in the EDM.

The Gunners are currently chasing down their first Premier League title since 2004 and moved one step closer with a 1-0 victory over Brighton on Wednesday night.

Their closest challengers, Manchester City, could only draw 2-2 with Nottingham Forest, allowing Arsenal to open up a seven-point gap at the top of the table.

Meanwhile, Mr Byrne, the MP for Liverpool West Derby, specifically urged Liverpool and Everton to freeze prices and "lead the way putting supporters first in a city where one-third of families face food insecurity."

The motion also dismisses claims that inflation justifies price hikes, labelling such arguments as "misleading" given the Premier League’s £6.7 billion domestic television deal over four years.