Liverpool Football Club has implemented over 400 lifetime bans and 115 indefinite suspensions as part of an extensive crackdown on ticket touting. The disciplinary actions followed a significant police operation that resulted in the seizure of more than £1.2 million in assets linked to the illegal resale of match tickets.
Merseyside Police collaborated with the club on the operation, which targeted the laundering of criminal proceeds generated from illicit ticket sales. This initiative ran parallel to the club's ongoing efforts to combat touting both online and at the stadium.
Detective Chief Inspector Nick Suffield praised the partnership, stating, "This is a fantastic example of partnership working between ourselves and Liverpool Football Club for the good of the fans and the general public." He added, "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."
Proceeds from the seized assets were divided between Merseyside Police and the Home Office. This action is part of a broader strategy by Liverpool FC to ensure fair access to tickets for its supporters. Previous investigations by BBC Sport revealed that the club had deactivated 145,000 ticket accounts over the preceding two years to curb touting activities.
During the 2023-24 season alone, Liverpool FC scrutinized nearly 700,000 ticket registrations. This analysis led to the blocking or cancellation of 67,663 suspected fraudulent accounts, with an additional 121,379 accounts still under review. Furthermore, 3,847 tickets were invalidated due to suspicious purchase patterns during the same season. These tickets were subsequently made available for general sale, increasing availability for legitimate fans.
The club also intensified targeted checks on matchdays. At Anfield, an average of 300 individuals per home game were subjected to checks, and similar measures were implemented at away games in both domestic and European competitions. These checks aimed to prevent individuals using suspicious ticket accounts from accessing the stadium.