Shame on Schalke/UEFA for ticket prices – Banner at Veltins Arena

Ticket prices have been in the news recently and generally the trend has been positive particularly for away fans. In the Premier League clubs are starting to act with reciprocal agreements.

The clubs seem to be starting to realise that travelling away is an expensive pursuit for fans with the atmosphere that away fans bring a huge part of the appeal of the Premier League.

Unfortunately this attitude has not reached Schalke in Germany who charged Chelsea fans more than their own supporters in blatant ignorance of UEFA rules and principles of fair play.

The rule is supposed to be that away fans in the Champions League pay the same for an equivalent ticket for home fans. However Chelsea fans paid 5 euro more for equivalent seats in the Veltins Arena. In fact some cheaper tickets in different parts (non equivalent) were a full 16 euro cheaper with fans we spoke to paying 41 compared to the 57 euro that Chelsea fans paid.

The club protested on behalf of fans at this blatant profiteering and breach of the rules, but as UEFA had said it was ok at the start of the season they refused to act and Schalke refused to entertain the notion of doing the right thing.

This is a shame as it lets down a club that is generally fairly fan friendly, our local transport was free on matchday and we were not held behind after the game either.

The trip was brilliant with the result even sweeter however it was worth highlighting the issue and some fans in our section fans did not want to let it drop and made the point with a hastily prepared banner after half time.

The owner of the banner Steve confessed after the game that it was a bed sheet from their hotel and that although quite crude they just wanted to get the message across that UEFA and Schalke should be ashamed of themselves for their pricing structure.

Fair play to him and all the other Chelsea fans that made the trip, Keeping the Blue Flag Flying High over land and sea (and Leicester).