'We all know the root cause' - Sir Jim Ratcliffe told to address 'elephant in the room' as angry Man Utd fans plan ticket price protest ahead of Arsenal showdown

In December, United announced that ticket prices for Premier League matches at Old Trafford would rise to £66 per game, with no concessions for children or pensioners. This decision led to widespread discontent, with The 1958 leading a demonstration against the changes at the time. Now, with tensions reaching a boiling point, fans have announced a fresh protest ahead of the Arsenal match, with many accusing the club of exploiting its most loyal supporters.

In a heated exchange last month, a group of furious supporters confronted Ratcliffe, accusing him of "taking the p***" and claiming he was "worse than the Glazers" - a comparison that highlights their dissatisfaction.

The 1958 protest group has been vocal about their grievances, criticizing the club’s lack of transparency and failure to engage with fans on key issues.

A spokesman for The 1958 said: "We have been preparing for this for a few weeks in anticipation. We are angry, the fans are angry and it’s been building for some time. We have all been more than patient. We all know the root cause; we have always known the elephant in the room.

"Yet, this isn’t being addressed. It’s those who can least afford it, have the most emotional connection with our club who are being asked to pay the price in more ways than one. The current owners are trampling over generational support and memories of friends and family. Enough is enough. We need actions not words and it’s not good enough. The club preach fan engagement but the reality is they don’t practice it.

"They can hold meetings with the Fan Advisory Board which is all under NDA. It is supposed to be for the fans yet they can’t tell the fans hardly anything. It’s a disgrace! The silence from the club is deafening. We rise again to defend our club and be warned this will not just be on the street campaigns at the ground. Keep treating the fans with contempt at your peril.”

In an interview with United We Stand magazine, Ratcliffe attempted to justify the ticket price increase by arguing that United tickets should not cost less than those of London clubs like Fulham. However, his remarks only added fuel to the fire, with many fans seeing them as out of touch with reality.

However, following weeks of backlash, Ratcliffe and his INEOS team have met with the  Fans' Advisory Board to discuss the growing concerns. According to reports, these meetings have allowed club officials to gather supporter feedback before making a final decision on whether to approve another price hike.

To highlight the extent of fan frustration, The 1958’s fan representation division, FC58, conducted a large-scale survey regarding ticket prices and the overall matchday experience.

The results painted a damning picture as 92 per cent of fans expressed dissatisfaction with current ticket pricing and a similar percentage criticised the matchday atmosphere, indicating that rising costs have not been matched by an improved experience. Furthermore, 98% of respondents stated that they felt disrespected by the way both the club and the Premier League treat match-going supporters.

As protests continue to gather momentum, United must also focus on matters on the pitch. The Red Devils are currently languishing in the bottom half of the table, making their upcoming Premier League fixtures critical in the battle for European qualification. United travel to Tottenham this Sunday and only a victory could quell the rising discontent among fans.