The ticket price protest organised by Bayern Munich fans against Arsenal was witnessed and welcomed by millions of supporters worldwide.
Angered at being charged £64, which took the actual price close to €100 once fees had been added, the FC Bayern Worldwide group decided to stage a public protest.
Munich is probably one of the most prosperous cities in the world but German clubs have always attempted to remain connected with supporters, catering for all income ranges rather than trying to play on the emotional attachment of fans.
Rather than join in the build up to the match thousands of Bayern fans waited in the concourse at the Emirates Stadium, waiting until the match had started before taking their seats- after a banner protest at the prices.
Announcing the action FCBWW used their facebook page to state: “This kind of a price structure makes a stadium visit impossible for younger and socially disadvantaged fans. It destroys fan culture, which is the basis of football. In England, this development has already taken place.
To protest @Arsenal‘s outrageous ticket prices, we won’t be entering the away bloc for the first 5’ to show what the future of football is.
— FC Bayern WorldWide (@FCBWorldWide) October 14, 2015
“Our action in London is not only directed at ticket prices for a single game. During home games, Bayern fans pay €30 for a single ticket in the cheapest price category. In comparison, this seems moderate. However, seen over the course of a season, it adds up to a large sum, especially for younger fans. In Piraeus, Bayen fans have to pay €50 for away tickets, in Zagreb around €40 will be demanded. In comparison with the prices at Arsenal, this may seem reasonable, but during a qualification game against lesser opposition, the prices in Zagreb were only a tenth of that.
“We want to protest at the price structure and at the same time changes in the stadia. We want to remind clubs and associations of their social responsibility and warn them of the effects, which we will all feel, both as fans and club officials. We express our support for campaigns like “20’s Plenty” from England and “Kein Zwanni” in Germany. Especially the developments in English football should be a sobering example.”
