MANCHESTER UNITED have announced another increase in ticket prices – this time for an academy match at Old Trafford.
It comes after huge fan uproar against several first-team price hikes introduced by Sir Jim Ratcliffe since Ineos bought a minority stake last February.
United’s Under-21s host Athletic Bilbao in the Premier League International Cup at Old Trafford on September 24.
But ticket entry has tripled up to £10 for adults to attend, while children are priced at £5.
In November, United charged £3 for adults and £1.50 for kids to watch the Under-19s against AZ Alkmaar at the Theatre of Dreams.
That meant the total cost for one adult and one child to attend that game was £4.50, yet the same tickets for the clash with Bilbao will now cost £15 – a 233 per cent jump.
SunSport has approached United for comment.
Unlike the past year’s ticket hikes which sparked fury, this time the fan reaction is mixed.
One wrote: “Should be free for everyone in those matches. £10 is a joke. Hope the stadium is empty.”
But another added: “Nothing wrong with that. It’s only a few quid.”
The Under-21s play their league home fixtures at Leigh Sports Village, which is 13 miles away from Old Trafford, and tickets for those fixtures have previously been free of charge.
Prices, along with staff redundancies, have been a source of controversy since Ratcliffe acquired a minority stake in United last year.
United made the mid-season decision to raise matchday tickets to £66 per game in the Prem, with no concessions for children or pensioners.
Fans organised protests against the markup and Ratcliffe added fuel to the fire in his interview with the United We Stand magazine.
He said “it doesn’t make sense” for a United ticket to cost less than a ticket to watch London club Fulham.
Meanwhile, the Under-21s travel to face fifth-tier side Brackley in the National League Cup on Tuesday night.
Adult tickets are priced at £7 and kids can go free at St James’ Park.
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MANCHESTER UNITED’S miserable start to the season continued after they were brushed aside by neighbours Man City.
Ruben Amorim’s side were unable to come back with a bang after the international break, falling to a 3-0 away defeat.
Phil Foden opened the scoring for City after just 18 minutes with a glancing header that gave Altay Bayindir – keeping his spot despite the arrival on Ssnne Lammens – little chance to stop.
While Erling Haaland did what he does best by bagging a second-half brace to put the hosts out of reach.
United now sit 14th in the table, with City leapfrogging them with their second win of the season.
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