Jurgen Klopp and Mauricio Pochettino have joined forces with supporters’ clubs at Liverpool and Tottenham to condemn profiteering and ticket issues ahead of their Champions League final.
The Premier League rivals clash at Atletico Madrid’s 67,800-capacity Wanda Metropolitano stadium on June 1 after staging stunning comebacks in the penultimate round.
But fans are dismayed at only 16,613 tickets being allotted to each club, while the rocketing cost of attending the match on account of increased air fares and hotel rates has also provoked anger.
We’ve issued a statement alongside @spiritofshankly on pricing and travel issues around the Champions League final. https://t.co/8bi0awOzhd— THST (@THSTOfficial) May 10, 2019
In a joint statement issued by the Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust and Spirit of Shankly, calls have been made for a cap on ticket pricing, transparency over allocation and consumer protection measures to be introduced to stop prices being forced up.
Klopp became the first manager to voice his concern by objecting to the opportunism of the travel industry, while rounding on UEFA for their selection of Baku as the host city for the Europa League final, which will be contested by Arsenal and Chelsea.
“These decisions, they must be much more sensible. It just looks irresponsible,” the Liverpool boss said.
“A solution maybe, in the cities who get the final, maybe they have to make a price cut? I heard a room that is normally £100 is now £2,700? Just crazy!
“Madrid is unbelievably expensive but who decides Baku for a European final? Or Kiev? I don’t know what the people who decide these things have for breakfast.”
Pochettino experienced the rising prices first-hand when he attempted to book travel to Madrid in the hope that friends and family would be able to attend.
“We started to talk with the club today (Friday) to organise and see how it is going to work,” he said.
“Yesterday I was calling some hotels to try and book some rooms because I don’t know if my family and some people from Argentina are going to be there.
“I wanted to book and it was so difficult and the prices are so crazy. I am very surprised but it is normal that people take advantage of this type of opportunity to make benefit. It is going to be very, very difficult.”
The supporters’ clubs are dismayed by what they view as exploitation of fans’ determination to attend the Champions League showpiece.
“Our joy at reaching the final is tempered by the prices of travel, accommodation and tickets, and by the allocation of tickets,” their joint statement read.
“Prices of flights to Madrid and surrounding towns have rocketed by up to 840 per cent.
Champions League final 🇪🇸— PA Dugout (@PAdugout) May 9, 2019
“Hotel rooms are over £1,000 a night and we are hearing stories of room bookings being cancelled and resold at vastly inflated rates.
“Ticket prices of in excess of £500 are also extortionate. And there needs to be transparency from UEFA and our clubs in how tickets are priced and allocated.
“For many fans, this final is not a one-off event. It is the culmination of a journey. It is time to stop cashing in on fan loyalty.”
Arsenal Supporters’ Trust backed this stance as the Gunners and Chelsea contend with an allocation of 6,000 tickets each for their final in Baku’s Olympic Stadium on May 29.
The ground is 2,850 miles from London and has an official capacity of 64,000.
Arsenal have already insisted they are working with UEFA to gain a larger percentage of seats to add to the “disappointing ticket allocation”.
“This is an excellent statement by Spirit of Shankly. AST backs every word,” the Arsenal Supporters’ Trust said.
“We are working with them and all supporters’ groups to fight the disgraceful way that UEFA treats supporters. Not just at finals but at every stage. The 6pm kick-off just another example.”
