LIVERPOOL and West Ham fans joined forces ahead of their EFL Cup game on Wednesday night to protest against rising ticket prices across the game and changes to concession ticket pricing at West Ham’s London Stadium.
Fans from supporters’ groups, including Liverpool supporters’ union Spirit of Shankly and West Ham’s Hammer’s United, held a banner outside Anfield demanding clubs to stop exploiting fans’ loyalty.
The demonstration took place outside the Fans Supporting Foodbanks station at Anfield, and members of Everton’s Fan Advisory Board were also present.
It shows the importance of fans joining together as owners across the game treat supporters like customers and try to squeeze as much money as they can from them through matchday ticketing.
One such move has seen the removal of, or gradual reduction in discounts for concessions including children’s, over-66s and disabled tickets.
Other Premier League clubs including Spurs and Aston Villa have raised ticket prices, and Spurs, like West Ham, are working towards removing discounts on concession pricing.
West Ham fans have been encouraging fellow football supporters across the country to join them in these protests.
“The Football Supporters Association are supporting it and helping us, and Spirit of Shankly have led the way,” said Andy Payne of Hammers United.
“Man City’s 1894 group have helped us, and we’re talking to groups at Tottenham and Newcastle.
“Everywhere we go, we will take our banner. Every Premier League club can have one of these banners if they want it.”
West Ham fans have also been releasing black balloons onto the pitch before kick-off to further highlight the issue, with messages reading “Stop exploiting loyalty” and “Save our concessions.”
The banner shown outside the ground ahead of the game was also displayed in the stands before kick-off.
“It’s more important than club loyalties,” said Spirit of Shankly’s Gareth Roberts.
“It’s almost down to who owns football, and that should be football fans.
“It’s not a product, it’s not Weetabix as a former owner [Tom Hicks] here once said. It’s something we’ve grown up with and is part of the community.
“You don’t give your club up and go and try someone else, you’re in it for life.
“We want to pass on a legacy to our sons, our daughters, where football is affordable, and right now people in the board rooms are trying to do something different, so we are opposing that.”
West Ham disappointed on the field while Liverpool continued their impressive start under new manager Arne Slot with a 5-1 win.
Two goals each from Diogo Jota and Cody Gakpo and another from substitute Mohamed Salah gave a rotated Liverpool line-up a convincing win to take them through to the next round where they face Brighton later in October.
