Newcastle United have issued an apology to supporters and cancelled more than 100 season tickets after uncovering an oversight that allowed tickets to be sold through unauthorised channels. The controversy came to light when it was revealed that a school almost 200 miles away had purchased seats for the highly anticipated Champions League clash against Barcelona, despite overwhelming demand from fans.
The incident stems from an arrangement made nearly a decade ago with a small group of tour organisers, who were initially allowed to purchase tickets for school groups. Although the club’s current ownership ended such third-party deals four years ago, it later emerged that some organisers had continued accessing and reselling season tickets. Because no formal contract existed, the continued use of these seats went undetected until recently.
Newcastle admitted the error and confirmed that 103 season tickets have now been terminated for breaching terms and conditions. The club stressed that it had not profited beyond the face value of the tickets and has since reallocated the seats back to supporters through the official ballot system. In a statement, the club apologised for the oversight and emphasised its commitment to protecting legitimate access for its fanbase.
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The situation escalated after 45 tickets for the Barcelona game were purchased by the High School of Dundee, in the same month that more than 110,000 fans queued online for the remaining seats. Although the school said it bought the tickets in good faith after being approached by a provider, Newcastle later cancelled the allocation.
The Newcastle United Supporters’ Trust (NUST) welcomed the club’s swift action but expressed disappointment that fans had been placed in such a position. NUST chair Lisa Mole stressed the importance of full transparency, stating that while supporters were pleased accountability had been taken, it was frustrating to know that over 100 seats had been allocated outside the fanbase every home game.
As Newcastle prepare for one of their most significant European nights in recent history, the club’s apology and corrective steps aim to restore trust among supporters and ensure that loyal fans remain at the heart of ticket access moving forward.
