Manchester United have banned 685 season ticket holders for reselling their seats but insist that the crackdown is not a cash-grab by the club.

It follows an investigation by United chiefs that found “unusual activity” on the accounts of 1,617 members, who were asked to provide explanations.

The operation caused outcry among some supporters, who accused the club of trying to purge season ticket holders in order to make way for bigger-spending tourist fans at Old Trafford.

United announced they had now concluded the probe and revoked almost 700 memberships where “sufficient evidence of tickets being sold above face value or activity for financial gain” was identified. While those fans can apply for tickets again next season, they will have to join the back of the queue.

A further 464 season ticket holders received lesser sanctions, including bans on applying for away games, or final warnings.

Password sharing more common than United realised

Password sharing – in which members allowed friends to access their accounts, in breach of ticketing terms and conditions – was central to the investigation and, United admitted, more common than they had previously realised.

“We recognise that many supporters have shared account login details in circumstances they regarded as legitimate, and we did not anticipate the extent to which this was occurring,” the Premier League club said.

“In those cases, where there was no additional evidence of misuse, no sanction was imposed.” 

United fans who received bans were entitled to appeal to an independent panel convened by the club. The panel downgraded the punishment in 238 cases.

Club ‘not profiting’ from seats being resold

Those upheld can still make a further appeal to the Independent Football Ombudsman, meaning United will delay re-selling those season tickets until next month.

“Any seats used on a match-by-match basis before then will be sold at season ticket prices, not matchday prices. The club is not profiting from this process,” they said.

“Our focus now turns to ensuring these tickets are returned to our supporters. All season tickets released through this process will be offered to supporters on the season ticket waiting list.

“Refunds have been or will be issued to each of the season ticket holders who have been banned.”