A Labour MP has called for independent regulation of football ticket pricing, warning that working-class supporters are being increasingly priced out of attending top-flight matches.
Speaking during the second reading of the Football Governance Bill in the House of Commons, Ian Byrne, the MP for Liverpool West Derby, urged the government to empower the proposed Independent Football Regulator (IFR) to oversee ticket prices. Byrne said spiralling costs, particularly for high-profile games, are alienating the very communities that have long sustained the sport.
“The reality is that prices are far too high already, especially for younger fans,” Byrne told MPs. Referring to Liverpool Football Club’s recent Premier League title win—its 20th in history—Byrne added: “I witnessed thousands of working-class supporters, young working-class supporters, priced out of Anfield, with some tickets going for over £1,000.”
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and the Premier League have been approached for comment but are yet to respond.
Under the proposed legislation, the IFR would be tasked with ensuring financial sustainability of clubs across the top five tiers of men’s football, protecting club heritage, and enhancing fan engagement. Byrne, a passionate Liverpool supporter, argued that the regulator’s remit should be expanded to include oversight of ticket pricing and concessionary rates.
“For 2025-26, of those announced, the majority of prices have been frozen at Premier League clubs, but it has only happened following the concerted and coordinated efforts by fan groups led by the Football Supporters’ Association,” Byrne said.
He expressed concern that some top-flight clubs are also quietly reducing the number of available season tickets, a move criticised by the Football Supporters’ Association (FSA). A spokesperson for the FSA called it “a covert way for clubs to charge premium prices for the biggest games.”
Byrne proposed two specific amendments to the bill. First, he wants the IFR to be granted authority over pricing decisions and to produce regular “State of Football” reports that reflect fan sentiment and policy effectiveness. Second, he called for a full review of concessionary ticket pricing to ensure loyal supporters of all ages, especially the young and elderly, are not excluded due to cost.
“We cannot allow the greed of some owners with no idea of how important [the] working-class game is to the very communities that it should always serve,” he said.
In response to pricing criticisms, Liverpool FC stated it had frozen matchday ticket prices for eight of the last ten years. The cheapest ticket in the Kop stand remains £39, with the most expensive priced at £45—unchanged for nearly 15 years, according to the club.
The Football Governance Bill, a key government initiative to reform the sport’s financial and operational structure, is expected to progress through Parliament later this year.
As the debate over football affordability intensifies, supporters’ groups and MPs like Byrne continue to push for a game that remains accessible to all, not just the affluent few.
 and the Premier League have been approached for comment but are yet to respond.){kind=link}