Tottenham and Liverpool are celebrating reaching the Champions League final in Madrid next month.
Both sides pulled off incredible comebacks in Europe this week, with Liverpool fighting back from a 3-0 first leg deficit against Barcelona to win 4-3 on aggregate after an impressive display at Anfield, while Spurs fought back from 3-0 down on aggregate against Ajax, scoring three second half goals to set up an all-English final on June 1.
But while both sets of supporters are now looking forward to the final, their excitement has been tempered by the problems they are now encountering in trying to get to Madrid, with the cost being the major concern for many fans.
And the Tottenham Hotspur Supporters Trust and Spirit of Shankly have joined forces to issue a statement calling for transparency from the organisers UEFA.
The statement read: "This has been a sensational European Champions League campaign for Tottenham Hotspur FC and Liverpool FC. Fans of both clubs are now looking forward to what will be a special occasion in Madrid on 1 June.
"But our joy at reaching the final is tempered by the prices of travel, accommodation and tickets, and by the allocation of tickets.
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"Prices of flights to Madrid and surrounding towns have rocketed by up to 840%. Hotel rooms are over £1,000 a night and we are hearing stories of room bookings being cancelled and resold at vastly inflated rates. Ticket prices of in excess of £500 are also extortionate. And there needs to be transparency from UEFA and our clubs in how tickets are priced and allocated.
"For many fans, this final is not a one-off event. It is the culmination of a journey that has seen fans spending thousands of pounds travelling to six cities in each club’s campaign, bringing the spectacle and atmosphere that is a key part of the product so prized by television.
"It is time to stop cashing in on fan loyalty. As the independent supporter organisations at both clubs we are calling for:
- A cap on ticket pricing
- Transparency over allocation
- Consumer protection measures to stop prices being forced up exponentially and to stop practices such as repricing existing deals
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