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English Premier League club Liverpool shut down 100,000 fake ticketing accounts, and issued 75 lifetime bans and 136 indefinite suspensions last season alone, in a bid to crack down on ticket touting.
The club deactivated these accounts following investigations, while some have been blocked from sales or ballots due to suspicious online activity or were identified as bots. A further 5,670 accounts are currently under review by the club for suspicious activity including supplying persons who have already been charged by Merseyside Police for ticket touting.
During the 2023-24 season, a total of 1,500 tickets were cancelled as part of mass cancellations or from account-holders that have already received sanctions, and the tickets were made available for resale.
Many of the lifetime bans and indefinite suspensions were dished out for the unauthorised reselling of season tickets, memberships or hospitality tickets. Doing so breaches the club’s terms and conditions.
This season, the club has further invested in anti-touting measures, including the development of greater online protection, delivering more boots-on-the-ground operations, and dedicating more internal resources.
“Supporters are reminded not to buy tickets from unofficial online channels or from unofficial sellers, as there has been an increase in the number of fans being defrauded, particularly online,” the club said.
Earlier this month, Liverpool consulted with fans over its ticketing strategy to help improve access to home and away tickets, pricing, cup schemes and more.
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