TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR SUPPORTERS’ TRUST AND SPIRIT OF SHANKLY JOINT STATEMENT

This has been a sensational Champions League campaign for Tottenham Hotspur FC and Liverpool FC, with fans of both clubs now looking forward to the final in Madrid on 1 June. But supporters’ joy has been tempered by the extortionate costs of travel, accommodation and tickets – if they get a ticket at all with the measly allocation from UEFA.

Prices of flights to Madrid and surrounding towns have rocketed by up to 840%. Hotel rooms are more than £1,000 a night, with stories of room bookings being cancelled AND resold at vastly inflated rates. Ticket in excess of £500 are exorbitant. There needs to be transparency from UEFA and both clubs in how tickets are priced and allocated.

For many, the final is not a one-off event. It is the culmination of a season-long journey for fans, who have spent thousands of pounds already travelling to support their team, bringing the spectacle and atmosphere that is a key part of the game so prized by television.

It is time to stop cashing in on fan loyalty. As the independent supporter organisations LFC and Tottenham, we call for:

• A cap on ticket pricing
• Transparency over allocation
• Consumer protection measures to halt prices being forced up exponentially, and to stop the practice of repricing existing deals