New UK Ticket Resale Law: Football Left Out

What’s Happening?

The UK government has introduced new legislation to ban ticket touting (reselling tickets above face value) for sporting events — but not for football matches.

This move follows a BBC investigation in September that exposed a massive black market reselling thousands of Premier League tickets at up to 4× the original price.

Why Football Is Excluded

• Football is already governed by the 1994 Criminal Justice and Public Order Act.

• This Act prohibits the resale of football tickets unless through club-approved channels (e.g., official ticket exchanges).

• Its original purpose: combat hooliganism and reduce matchday disorder, not price control.

• It only applies in England and Wales, which limits its power over international black market operators.

The Black Market Loophole

• Over 50 unauthorised sites are reselling Premier League tickets, including StubHub and Vivid Seats (where Chelsea owner Todd Boehly is a director).

• These platforms are often registered abroad (Spain, Dubai, Estonia, Germany) and out of reach of UK laws.

• Example:

  • Arsenal v Nottingham Forest had 18,000 tickets listed on unauthorised sites—almost ⅓ of Emirates’ capacity.

  • Ticket prices ranged from £55 to £14,962, often delivered as last-minute mobile passes.

Wimbledon’s Debenture Exemption & United’s Opportunity

Wimbledon

:

• Their debenture system (premium seats valid for 5 years + hospitality access) has been granted an exemption from the resale cap.

• 3,770 seats can be sold via official trading platforms or privately.

Manchester United’s Stadium Plan

:

• The Wimbledon precedent could benefit Man United, who are exploring “seat licences” to help fund a £2bn stadium rebuild.

• A seat licence allows fans to:

  • Pay a lump sum to reserve a specific seat

  • Get priority to buy tickets

  • Possibly resell their rights, generating long-term value

These seat licences resemble Wimbledon’s debentures — meaning Man United could argue for a similar exemption to fund stadium development.

Key Takeaways

• New resale laws will help control inflated prices — but NOT for football.

• The 1994 law is outdated and ineffective against international resellers.

• Football’s black market remains “endemic”, with no immediate fix.

• Wimbledon’s exemption sets a key precedent for other major venues.

• Manchester United could benefit via licensed seat models for stadium funding.