Manchester United to charge Valencia fans extra £22 in ticket row

Valencia's decision to charge Manchester United fans £77 for tickets has not gone down well, with the English club following their example.

Manchester United responded to Valencia's price hike in a similar fashion to that occasion, saying it will up its prices for Valencia fans for the Old Trafford clash on October 2.

Manchester United has increased ticket costs for travelling Valencia fans in response to the Spanish club's refusal to charge away supporters a "reasonable amount" for their UEFA Champions League meeting at Mestalla.

Valencia informed United that it is charging away fans £77 for their match on December 12, catching the Premier League club by surprise.

United claims to have initially estimated fans would be charged a maximum of £55 and now feels as though its followers are being unfairly treated once again after Sevilla hiked prices in the Champions League round of 16 last term.

The club has responded in a similar fashion to that occasion, saying it will up its prices for Valencia fans for the Old Trafford clash on October 2. United says it will also use the extra revenue generated to subsidise ticket costs of its supporters travelling to Spain.

In a letter to fans successful in applying for Valencia tickets, United wrote: "Prior to receiving confirmed pricing, we had estimated a maximum price of £55, and conducted the ballot based on this.

"Valencia have now confirmed our tickets for this game will be priced at £77, in this instance we believe that our travelling supporters are again being unfairly subjected to increased/excessive ticket prices from the host club.

"This view is shared generally amongst travelling supporters and we have received many requests from individuals and supporter groups to intervene in this matter.

"This has been raised with Valencia, and internally, but ultimately Valencia have not agreed to lower the price of tickets to what we view as a reasonable amount.

"Similarly to Sevilla away last season, we have again taken the difficult decision to charge Valencia fans for the home leg at Old Trafford the same amount as Valencia are charging the away fixture (£77).

"We will use this increase to subsidise our travelling support by paying the £22 price increase for each of our travelling supporters; therefore, you will not be charged any additional amount."

United also announced any additional revenue gained as a result of the price change will be donate to the club's charity arm.