Fans Everywhere Unhappy at Clubs' Price Increases - "Even Moneybags QPR" Price Increases

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Mail - Clubs are treating fans like mugs with price rises, blasts fans' group. . . (even moneybags QPR put tickets up by a third)

Football fans hit by soaring season-ticket prices are being "exploited", says a fans' group.

The national body which represents their interests want the Office of Fair Trading - the Government department for protecting consumers - to launch an investigation.

How much? Chelsea fans look like they've just seen their season ticket bill for next season
Steven Powell, director of policy and campaigns at the Football Supporters Federation, said: "There is no excuse at a time when the game is awash with money. I would be very happy to see an inquiry from the Office of Fair Trading into ticket pricing.

"It is about time this outrageous exploitation was stopped. It is an abuse of a dominant position in the market and not a necessity.

"In Germany, you can go and watch Schalke 04 - who were third in the Bundesliga - for 11 euros to stand and 15 euros for a seat. I am hacked off with our fans being treated as mugs by clubs. We have got two choices for our national game - either wake up in 10 years' time and ask why all the empty seats, or get a grip now."

An investigation by the London Evening Standard shows that prices at Queens Park Rangers have risen by as much as 36 per cent.

The Loftus Road club were bought by wealthy Formula One tycoons, Flavio Briatore and Bernie Ecclestone, and a QPR spokesman has defended their price rises. "We have to generate further income," he said. Mail

Research by BBC Sport revealed the cost of Premier League season tickets has risen by 7.2 per cent, more than twice the rate of consumer price inflation.