West Ham Ban Fans For Selling Away Tickets

West Ham's Away Fans

An article has been posted on popular fans website KUMB.com, highlighting a disturbing development from West Ham United.

The link to the full article is here

A number of West Ham United away ticket holders have been banned by the club for selling on tickets to away matches to fellow supporters.

Several supporters received notice today that they were being temporarily banned from attending both home and away matches for up to six weeks, after they were accused of selling on their match day tickets.

West Ham wrote to a number of supporters less than 48 hours before United travel to Merseyside in order to face Everton.

That was almost a fortnight since the club’s last Premier League fixture, at home to Crystal Palace, by which time most of those affected by the bans had already made plans and paid for travel and accommodation.

One of those supporters affected was twitter user and KUMB follower James_21995. “I’ve got a ban today for this,” he wrote. “Work changed my shift after I bought tickets and I’ve been told I’m banned until the end of November.

“I’m sure the club will sell my seat to someone else and make money doing so. They haven’t even given me the option to appeal.”

Meanwhile another supporter to receive a ban, @chris_whu62 confirmed that he had been contacted directly by the club to be informed of his suspension: “I’ve just had a call from the ticket office,” he added.

“Someone reported me for selling my Everton tickets and, as a result, I am banned from buying tickets for the next three games and have a stadium ban until 3 November.

“It’s strange how the club do nothing about the touts we all see outside of the stadium, yet they jump on anyone genuinely trying to help out a fellow fan rather than see a ticket wasted. Bizarre behaviour, but hardly surprising.”

News of the bans comes little more than a week after the club’s Official Supporter Board met to discuss the club’s ticketing policy following numerous complaints regarding the manner in which it has been handled.

“The OSB had a ticketing meeting a week ago and now fans are being banned,” wrote Hammers Chat’s Geo Mackie. “Either they discussed this issue, or the club are stitching them up.”

West Ham steadfastly refuse to offer any details regarding the distribution of their away ticket allocations, for which up to ten per cent are available through a ballot.

News of the bans comes on the same day that co-owner David Gold was accused of retweeting a messagefrom a supporter asking to be put in contact with anyone who has tickets available for this weekend’s trip to Everton.

Also Nicky Hawkins, a regular away fan from West ham Fan TV had the following to say on Twitter…

All Hammers United would add is that everyone goes to weddings, has holidays, suffers family bereavements. There has to be a facility in place whereby tickets can be returned for resale.

What if someone falls ill the night before a match, it seems if they pass their ticket to a friend they will be banned! madness.

Also we are asking West Ham, will club employees who pass tickets on face disciplinery action?

The OSB were either consulted on this or bypassed. Either way they are not serving the supporters they claim to represent. Where are you David Baker? Whats the OSB’s position on this?

Hammers United will write to West Ham today on behalf of our members expressing grave concerns over the club’s actions.