Manchester United icon Paul Scholes recently shared that he resorted to purchasing tickets from a scalper for a match at Old Trafford. Despite being an esteemed player for the club, Scholes expressed his struggle in navigating the current ticket procurement process due to significant changes post his retirement.
Having amassed an impressive 718 appearances for United and contributing to 25 major trophies, including 11 Premier League titles under the leadership of Sir Alex Ferguson, Scholes emphasized feeling disconnected from the present club environment.
In a conversation with his former teammate Nicky Butt on The Good, the Bad & the Football podcast, Scholes voiced his uncertainty, stating, “It’s a very different football club to the club we knew. I don’t know about you Nicky, you worked there quite recently, but I don’t really know anybody there.”
Butt echoed similar sentiments, revealing a concerning incident where United threatened to revoke his season ticket due to infrequent usage. Reflecting on the evolving dynamics, Scholes recounted a scenario where he had to contact a ticket tout for tickets as he lacked direct club connections for ticket requests.
Despite their illustrious contributions to the club, Scholes emphasized the need for fair treatment, asserting, “I’m not complaining about that. That’s just the way it is and the way it happens. Just because you played for the club, you’re not entitled to stuff.”
Acknowledging the changing landscape and acknowledging the challenge in navigating the new ticketing procedures, Scholes reiterated the unique difficulties faced by former players in accessing match tickets.