Liverpool FC has issued 432 lifetime bans and assisted in the seizure of more than £1.2 million in assets following a landmark joint investigation with Merseyside Police targeting organised ticket touting. The operation, the first collaboration of its kind between a Premier League club and their local police authority, analysed almost 700,000 ticket registrations last season.
Scale of the Investigation
The club’s investigations team worked alongside the force’s economic crime team to trace the laundering of proceeds from illicit ticket sales. Authorities have detained £1.2 million in assets under the Proceeds of Crime Act, with the funds set to be split between Merseyside Police and the Home Office.
Two individuals have been convicted as part of the operation, while another suspect is due to appear in court next month. Outside Anfield on match days, police and club investigations led to a 33 per cent increase in the number of burner phones either identified or seized.
Beyond the lifetime exclusions, Liverpool cancelled or blocked 67,663 suspected fake accounts last season. A further 121,379 accounts remain under investigation. The club also issued 115 indefinite suspensions, with affected account holders facing an average three-year wait before they can apply for reinstatement.
Nature of the Offences
Most bans were imposed for the unauthorised selling of season tickets, membership tickets or hospitality packages. However, the disciplinary action also extended to serious misconduct.
Lifetime bans and suspensions were issued for three cases of racist and homophobic abuse, 13 instances of inappropriate touching or language, four assaults and one incident of tragedy chanting.
Police Warning to Supporters
Detective Chief Inspector Nick Suffield, from Merseyside Police’s economic crime team, urged fans to avoid touts. “We will always take action to protect genuine fans who fall victim to touts when all they are trying to do is simply purchase tickets to support their team,” he said.
He confirmed that operations targeting touts operating both online and around the stadium would continue. “Don’t buy from ticket touts,” he warned. “You will be taking a huge risk with a lot of money and may ultimately be refused entry to the match with no way of getting your money back.”