FC Bayern Munich fans have complained about overly expensive tickets after the Champions League round of 16 final at Salzburg (1:1). Now the Austrian serial champion confirms that there is already contact with UEFA in this regard.
The association of active Bayern fans “Club Nr. 12” has drawn attention on its website to the fact that there was “pricing in breach of the rules” by the Austrian champions at the away game in Salzburg. The association is now demanding a partial refund of the ticket prices.
Violation of Article 19
What is this all about? The accusation: violation of Article 19 of the UEFA Safety Regulations, according to which the prices of tickets for visiting fans “may not be higher” “than those for tickets of a comparable category sold to supporters of the home team”.
The fans’ association speaks of tickets for Bayern supporters being twice as expensive as those for home fans. Already during the match, a large banner pointed out this grievance. “We will ask UEFA to order RB to refund the Bayern fans the overcharged ticket amounts,” it said in a statement. There is also backing from Football Supporters Europe, who have also already lodged the case with UEFA and are hoping for a quick response from the association.
“Ticket pricing done in close coordination with FC Bayern “
“There is contact with UEFA on this, the process is underway.” But will Bayern fans be reimbursed? “I don’t want to prejudge the ongoing process, but what I can say is that the pricing for the tickets was done in close coordination with FC Bayern. The 60 euros also only concerned the lower tier in the guest sector, and it has been agreed with FC Bayern that the ticket pricing will be the same for the return match in Munich,” says Salzburg’s press officer Christian Kircher. However, if FC Bayern were to charge more for the tickets of the visiting fans, they would also be in breach of Article 19 of the UEFA Safety and Security Regulations.
This is not the first time that FC Bayern fans have been confronted with excessive prices for away tickets. RSC Anderlecht, for example, already had to compensate Bayern fans for excessive prices a few years ago. Since visiting fans of other clubs are also repeatedly asked to pay more than the home supporters, Football Supporters Europe has long been campaigning for more transparent pricing by UEFA.
