Tottenham Hotspur is believed to be one of at least three clubs that expressed informal opposition to UEFA’s recent decision to cap the maximum ticket prices that home clubs can charge visiting fans in European competitions. UEFA announced this week that away fans in the Champions League would now pay a maximum of 60 euros, with Europa League tickets capped at 40 euros and Europa Conference League tickets set at 20 euros. These reductions will continue next season, with further decreases planned for the Champions League (50 euros) and Europa League (35 euros).
Although Tottenham raised concerns, the club insists there was no formal vote on the issue. A club statement clarified, “It is factually incorrect to state that there was a vote on this matter at the UEFA Club Competitions Committee. It is therefore entirely inaccurate to say that the Club voted against ticket price caps.” This statement followed reports indicating Spurs’ opposition, despite the club’s director of football administration and governance, Rebecca Caplehorn, being a member of the committee that endorsed the changes.
Tottenham’s Europa League draw sees them facing challenging away fixtures in cities like Ferencvaros, Galatasaray, Rangers, and Hoffenheim, adding significant travel costs for fans. While ticket price caps are meant to help ease the financial burden for traveling supporters, Tottenham’s reservations suggest potential concerns over revenue impacts from hosting away fans at capped prices.
Simultaneously, Tottenham is facing scrutiny from its own fanbase over domestic ticketing policies. The Tottenham Supporters’ Trust has been vocally critical of the club’s recent decision to scrap new senior concession season tickets, launching a petition that has garnered over 2,000 signatures. The Trust argues that the decision unfairly penalizes loyal, long-term fans, many of whom are on fixed or lower incomes. “This misguided policy impacts the most loyal, long-term supporters,” the Trust said, warning it sets a dangerous precedent that could also affect young adult and child concessions in the future.
The Football Supporters’ Association has echoed these concerns, calling the policy “disgraceful” and emphasizing that Spurs, one of the wealthiest clubs in the world, should not be penalizing elderly fans in this way. On social media, they highlighted the fact that new OAP season ticket holders will no longer receive discounts, regardless of age, starting from the 2025/26 season.
Tottenham defended their decision, citing financial sustainability as the reason behind the move. The club noted that while the stadium capacity has doubled since moving to the new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the number of senior concession season tickets has increased fourfold compared to the old White Hart Lane. The club argues that this is not sustainable, adding, “Season ticket income is a fundamental source of security for stadium borrowings and cannot decrease.”
The club has reassured that existing senior concession holders will still receive discounted rates, but these discounts will be phased out gradually by the 2029/30 season. Junior concessions will remain unchanged at a 50% discount. While the club stresses that matchday senior concession tickets will still be available, it is clear that the decision has struck a nerve with many of its most dedicated supporters.
As the debate over ticket prices and fan concessions continues, Tottenham is finding itself at the center of both a domestic and European conversation about the balance between generating revenue and maintaining goodwill with supporters.
