Liverpool fans protest during Crystal Palace match with clear message to FSG | Football | Sport
Fans of Liverpool protested against an increase in ticket prices (Image: GETTY)
Liverpool fans transformed Anfield into a sea of yellow in a fresh demonstration against Fenway Sports Group’s decision to hike ticket prices. Supporters inside the ground for the fixture against Crystal Palace brandished yellow cards in the 13th minute to voice their displeasure at the increases, which were revealed last month.
Supporter groups including Spirit of Shankly, Spion Kop 1906, Kop Outs (LFC LGBTQ+ supporters group), cultuRED (faith and ethnicity supporters group), the LFC Women’s Supporters Club and numerous branches of the Official Liverpool Supporters Club coordinated the protest, with cards being handed out around Anfield prior to kick-off. Fans are furious at Liverpool’s plans to raise general admission ticket prices annually over the next three seasons, a move they claim is without precedent and eliminates any room for consultation.
Liverpool insist the channels of communication with supporters remain open, and that they are willing to continue engaging with fans on the issue.
The club has also highlighted that the rises are tied to inflation, stating that adult general admission season tickets will increase to no more than £1.42 per match.
They further cite the growing matchday operating costs at Anfield, which they claim have soared by 85 per cent.
Protests against the price hikes first emerged during the fixture against Fulham earlier this month before continuing into the Champions League quarter-final tie against Paris Saint-Germain, with fans urged to refrain from spending money inside the stadium.
A campaign van was also parked outside Liverpool’s AXA Training Centre on Friday and at various locations across the city ahead of this afternoon’s fixture.
A spokesperson for the campaign said: “This is about the future of Liverpool Football Club and who gets to be part of it. Locking in three years of price rises removes accountability and sets a dangerous precedent – not just here, but across the Premier League.
Anfield was turned into a sea of yellow during the match against Palace (Image: GETTY)
“This isn’t ‘some fans’. This is hundreds of thousands of supporters making their voices heard. On Saturday, we’re asking everyone inside Anfield and beyond to show FSG the yellow card.”
Reds manager Arne Slot was questioned about the protests at his Friday press conference, responding: “As long as I’m in football there are disagreements, and they are always about people with best interests of the club.
“Two weeks ago there was a protest and we had felt we had the full support of the fans. We will need the support of the fans.”
Meanwhile, Kop legend Jamie Carragher has thrown his weight behind the supporters’ protests.
Last week, he told the Liverpool Echo: “No owners of any club are ever popular but they have been absolutely fantastic for us, I’d argue that with the staunchest Red who goes home and away.
“But I don’t understand the ticket price thing in terms of how much they are bringing in from sponsorship and the revenue from the Premier League and when you look at wage bills, Liverpool’s is right up there with the best. And this idea that they need to up ticket prices to pay for these players, it’s absolute nonsense.
“The supporters are not daft, there’s enough out there, the intelligent ones can put the numbers together and say well you’re only going to gain an extra [small amount]. So what do you gain from it really?”
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