Arrests for ticket touting in the Premier League have almost trebled in just two seasons, new data seen by Platform Magazine shows.
According to Home Office statistics, 2024 saw the highest number of arrests in five years. This is a stark reminder of the growing challenge football authorities face.
Reporter Nathan Woollard spoke to victims and experts of ticket touting to discover the impact it will have on the future of British football.
What is touting and is it illegal?
Touting is the practice of reselling event tickets – often at elevated prices – to generate profit.
In football, this typically applies to individuals or organisations purchasing match tickets – sometimes in bulk – and subsequently reselling them through unofficial channels, such as online marketplaces and street vendors.
The rise follows a post-pandemic upturn in ticket demand, with arrests doubling from 2021/22 to 2022/23 and rising again last season, according to Home Office data on Football-related arrests, collected between seasons 2019/20 to 2023/24.
From 2021/22 to 2023/24, arrests rose from 9 to 26, 46% of which occurred at Chelsea FC home games.
Despite measures to combat touting, arrests in 2023/24 are now 24% higher than pre-Covid levels.
Touting is illegal under Section 166 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994.
‘It takes the game away from the community’
James Law, 23, is a victim of touting. In October, he purchased two tickets for a Manchester United game from a seller on Facebook as a last resort after official admission sold out.
They costed more than twice of the original ticket price.
“Me and my girlfriend were in Manchester for our anniversary and she’s a huge United [football team] fan, so I wanted to surprise her with some tickets to a standard Premier League game,” he said.
“I couldn’t get general sale tickets so I asked on Facebook, and found someone who wanted £250 for a single ticket. I felt violated and was about to call off the plans.
“But I wanted our weekend to be special, so I caved in.
“Touting ruins football – it turns passion for the game into a business that exploits its fans. It takes the game away from the community and that’s what irks me the most.
“We are living in the worst economic period for a long time, so we should at least be able to go to a game without breaking the bank.”
Why has there been an increase in touting?
David Forrest is a Professor at the University of Liverpool‘s Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences.
His work explores anti-football match fixing policy and he has collaborated with organisations such as the Gambling Commission, UEFA, Interpol and player unions on the issue of ticket touting.
“It would not be surprising if there was more touting activity,” he told Platform Magazine.
“Demand has been on an upward trend as average attendance figures show, but the price has not increased in line.
“There also seems to be more small clubs in the Premier League recently – hence there are more sell outs of games or matches where demand is not fully catered for.
“Unsatisfied demand will lead to activity in secondary markets.”
Who is being arrested for touting?
In 2023, Lester Woodard – a 43-year-old man from Hertfordshire – was issued with a three-year banning order by Merseyside Police over touting offences.
In the landmark case, the force claimed he had sold 468 tickets for 13 Everton FC matches of the 2023/24 Premier League season at heavily increased ‘touted’ prices.
The banning order means he is banned from entering any football grounds in the UK until 2026. Woodard was also fined £400 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £160 victim surcharge.
A Platform Freedom of Information request revealed that the average age of ticket tout offenders was 32. The data – obtained from the National Police Chief’s Council (NPCC) – was collated between the 2016/17 to 2023/24 season.
The oldest touting offender during this time period was 87 and the youngest, 25.
Are ticket price hikes making a difference?
’17 of the 20 football clubs in the Premier League have announced a price hike, with some in double-digit percentages,’ according to research in 2023 by the Football Supporters Association.
The national fan-led football organisation in England and Wales produced a subsequent report on the rise in ticket prices for the 23/24 season.
This noted that Nottingham Forest tickets saw the highest average price rise, at 20% per season.
Ricky Gee, an Associate Professor of Sociology at Nottingham Trent University, said: “The cost of living has resulted in the cost of everyday goods spiralling upwards.
“This is likely to have an impact on people’s income – they will therefore seek other avenues to make additional income.
“Football is incredibly popular and expensive. Touting on the rise means clubs will wish to protect their product, hence more arrests.
“Gaining a ticket [for football matches] is very difficult and the demand is greater than the supply. People will go to great lengths and expense to get a ticket.”
What’s next for Premier League clubs?
The surge in arrests for ticket touting reflects a growing challenge for the Premier League and other football bodies.
Rising demand, rising ticket prices, and economic pressures are driving fans to unofficial markets.
Despite increased enforcement and greater penalties, the practice continues, fuelled by unsatisfied demand and limited supply.
With clubs under ever greater pressure to protect their fans and ensure fair access, dealing with touting remains one of the key battles for football’s authorities.