Man United urged to take action against ‘bastard’ fans caught pretending to be disabled fans to attend matches… as charity warns their behavior ‘cannot be tolerated’

Manchester United have been urged to take action against “bastard” fans who pose as disabled supporters to attend matches.

Mail Sport reported this week that United had received “multiple” allegations that non-disabled supporters had turned up to away matches in wheelchairs using tickets allocated to disabled supporters.

The club has confirmed a series of measures designed to prevent a repeat of this scam, including ordering all disabled supporters with wheelchair tickets to collect them with valid ID and increased checks at the gate. outside the stadiums, in a context of widespread condemnation of those involved.

Supporters who passed on their tickets illegally have also been warned they could face sanctions – including lengthy bans – for touting. Under club rules, fans are asked to return their tickets for away matches if they cannot attend so they can resell them.

In response to reports from Mail Sport, Level Playing Field – one of the country’s leading disability sports charities – told United they needed to do more and said exploitation of the system “increases suspicion and discrimination”.

Man United fans pose as disabled fans to gain access to away matches (photo of United fans at Anfield earlier this season)

“These allegations must be treated with extreme severity,” said Level Playing Field President Tony Taylor.

“The abuse of tickets for disabled fans by non-disabled fans can directly deny the opportunity to attend live sporting events and also sets us back so far when it comes to education around disability.

“Some of the rhetoric surrounding these online reports has been appalling. I am a part-time wheelchair user myself and am sometimes seen using crutches instead.

“Misunderstanding about this is widespread and if non-disabled supporters exploit ticketing for disabled supporters, they increase suspicion and discrimination there, as well as for supporters with non-visible disabilities and those who may have disabilities. varying disabilities, in addition to directly refusing access to match day through their selfishness.

“This behavior cannot be tolerated and the club must take action to ensure that tickets for disabled supporters go to disabled supporters.”

Disability charity Scope told Mail Sport the allegations were “disheartening” and warned those who abused the system of the “damaging consequences of their actions”.

“There are already a host of barriers faced by disabled football fans, from inaccessible stadiums and public transport issues to negative attitudes from other fans,” said Scope spokesperson Allison Kerry.

“Football fans with disabilities should always have equal access to support their team.”

Mikey Erhardt, campaigner for Disability Rights UK, added: “Non-disabled people misusing support and services designed for disabled people is always disappointing, whether it’s people misusing disabled parking spaces disabled people or football fans.

“We cannot be surprised that such a situation is happening, when the rhetoric of the government and its media demonizes disabled people and the support we need at every turn.

“However, we must not let this abuse lead to more complex processes, as this would make it more difficult for genuine disabled supporters to get the access we need. We hope the club will work with its disabled supporters, to ensure that we are all welcome and treated equally.

Liverpool’s Disabled Supporter Association also weighed in on the dispute. “We fully support @ManUtd’s position and our friends @MudsaO support their disabled supporters. It’s really shocking! Enough is enough,” they wrote on X.

MUDSA secretary Chas Banks blasted “bastards” who were caught using disabled tickets to gain access to away matches and said some of those supporters had been spotted in an area for wheelchairs for a week, before jumping out of their seats when United scored a goal. target the next one.

United has launched a series of measures intended to prevent this scam from happening again in the future.

“I’ve seen evidence with my own eyes of these bastards doing this, and I have the pictures,” Banks said at a recent Fans Forum meeting.

“To the extent that they were seen on two occasions watching the match while sitting in a wheelchair on the wheelchair platform and then the next match being seen standing in the able-bodied section , bouncing up and down when United score a goal.

“I sincerely hope that whoever is caught receives the harshest possible punishment.

“This is not a victimless crime, and I find it very sad that some of the people who lose to these horrible, selfish fans are truly the least deserving of being deprived of their chance at a ticket to which they are entitled. Because I promise you, for many of them, time is not on their side.