Man Utd supporters handed three-year ban after posing as disabled fans to get ‘gold dust’ tickets
MANCHESTER UNITED have banned two supporters for posing as disabled fans to get “gold dust” tickets.
Mick Groom and Neil Collins have both been handed three-year bans by the club.
The pair falsely gained entry to disabled sections to watch matches after taking tickets they were not entitled to.
Their actions sparked fury from fellow supporters, report the Daily Mail, with multiple reports made to United officials.
Members of the club’s disabled supporters’ association claimed able-bodied fans had been posing as disabled.
The complaints prompted an investigation from United, leading to bans for Groom and Collins, who have the right to appeal.
Groom, from Essex, acted as a carer at away matches vs Newport, Luton and Brentford this season, the report adds.
Collins joined him in a wheelchair at Luton and Brentford despite neither of them being registered as disabled with United.
Instead, their home season tickets are in the regular section at Old Trafford.
Those season tickets have now been suspended, with United confirming the pair have been banned.
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Meanwhile, Groom took to social media ahead of Saturday’s FA Cup final, writing: “MUFC have decided to ban us both for 3 years. See you in 2027…”
He had previously posted a snap of an empty wheelchair to Facebook after the Luton match with the caption: “It’s a miracle.”
United are also said to be examining how Groom and Collins were able to enter the disabled section as well as who provided the tickets.
Tickets for United away matches are difficult to obtain and are seen as the holy grail by fans, especially for fixtures at smaller venues.
They become even more precious in the disabled areas due to how few are available.
Manchester United Disabled Supporters’ Association chair Chas Banks has hailed the club for their response.
He said: “I welcome this move by the club. They deserve great credit for putting the work in and doing the right thing for their genuinely disabled fans.”