Liverpool FC news: Reaction as club refuse to reverse ticket plan
The news coming out of the Liverpool FC Supporters Board meeting is that the club refuses to reverse the controversial ticket price rise. Here’s all the reaction.
Liverpool drove a wedge between the club and various supporter groups recently with the decision to raise ticket prices by 2%. The backlash was enough that no flags featured on the Kop against Atalanta on Thursday - a controversial protest for some.
The club met with the Supporters Board on Saturday to discuss the plan and released the following statement on ticket prices afterwards:
"Today, representatives from LFC and the Supporters Board met to discuss engagement processes and the recent two per cent ticket price rise announced for general admission and matchday tickets. "LFC confirmed that its decision on the two per cent rise will not be reversed. "LFC has agreed to review and improve its engagement approach in collaboration with the Supporters Board as it was acknowledged by both parties that more meaningful engagement over ticket prices is required."
The Supporters Board had this to say on X:
"Today representatives from LFC and the Supporters Board met to discuss engagement processes and the recent two percent ticket price rise announced for general admission and match day tickets. LFC confirmed that its decision on the two percent rise will not be reversed. "LFC has agreed to review and improve its engagement approach in collaboration with the Supporters’ Board as it was acknowledged by both parties that more meaningful engagement over ticket prices is required."
That wasn't all to come out of the meeting, however. LFC and the board announced an intention to discuss a planned raise on Membership fees going forward.
Unsurprisingly, fan groups are also very much against this and the club agreed to pause their plans until 'meaningful discussions' can take place.
"Membership prices were on the agenda for discussion during the meeting. LFC had proposed a small rise for next season but both parties have agreed to pause on this until more meaningful engagement can take place between LFC and the Supporters Board."
Reaction to ticket price meeting
Reaction has been mixed. Some believe the supporter groups should accept the 2% increase as it's not too significant. There's also a belief that protests disrupted the team on Thursday and should be muted going forward.
Unsurprisingly, that isn't the direction the major groups will go down. Spirit of Shankly made that clear in a Tweet after the meeting.
"We remain opposed to any increases in ticket prices," they wrote. "This was made abundantly clear to LFC representatives in the room via a frank exchange in the meeting earlier today. A full statement will follow."
Spion Kop 1906 voiced similar sentiments:
"Spion Kop 1906 have always, and will always be against ticket price increases. This stance was reaffirmed in the meeting with LFC today. We are still angry, frustrated and disappointed in this decision."
"Together with other groups on the Supporters Board, we remain opposed to any increases in ticket prices. This was made abundantly clear to LFC representatives in the room in the meeting earlier today."
The Liverpool Disabled Supporter Association gave the only neutral comments coming out of the meeting:
"We participated in a scheduled Supporters Board meeting at Anfield today. It was an open and frank meeting were all groups and Liverpool were able to express their opinions and positions on a number of issues. We are looking forward to more meaningful engagement going forward."