Adidas could accept an entry request, since it gets a small amount for each match, and is duly obligated.
The problem for some United fans is that away tickets are very difficult to come by and the club is cracking down on the fate of the tickets, amid concerns about significant infiltration by touts, who are selling at huge profits.
Some supporters have doubts about the club’s intentions and feel that “normal” fans are being excluded, with new rules on how many times tickets can be downloaded, who they can be forwarded to and when.
For some, the mistrust is so great that even the seemingly innocent sight of Littler having fun was enough to trigger angry posts on social media, particularly as he was with a senior United staff member responsible for fan engagement.
The gist of their argument is that United are strict when it comes to enforcing their own rules, except when it comes to high-profile fans who portray the club in a positive light. According to the rules, if Littler had asked a “normal” fan for a ticket, he would have risked being banned by selling them one.
United would clearly question having a two-tier system and most clubs finding special-case ways of getting match tickets.
But it emphasizes a disconnect between fans and the club that will not be easily resolved.
