Pundit lambasts club for ‘exploiting’ Liverpool after ‘extortionate’ reveal
Paul Robinson has slammed Fulham for charging fans up to £100 to watch their opening game of the Premier League season against Liverpool.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Tottenham and England goalkeeper claimed Fulham were “exploiting” fans during the cost of living crisis.
As relayed by the Athetlic’s Peter Rutzler earlier this month (8 July), fans will have to pay £100 for a ticket in Fulham’s new Riverside for the game against Liverpool.
The two sides face off at Craven Cottage on the opening day of the season next month (6 August).
“I think that’s relevant with the area of London it is in,” Robinson told Football Insider‘s Dylan Childs.
“You look at the price of houses around there, the cost of living around there and I suspect that’s got something to do with it.
“Football now is becoming more of a tourist attraction than it ever has been.
“You used to come up the escalator from the London underground and there would be adverts for the theatre and other tourist attractions and now it’s the Premier League clubs that are advertising on there.
“Clubs are charging these prices because they can get people to pay them.
“With the cost of living the way it is I don’t think anybody should be putting their prices up, especially football clubs with the revenue they get from TV and sponsorship and the wages they pay out.
“Fulham have probably exploited the fact they know they have a huge fan base they can sell tickets to with an away team. They can fill their stadium by visiting supporters or people in London.
“£100 to watch a game of football is extortionate. They’re not helping their fans, they’re not helping the away fans.
“We know they’ve got a new stand to pay for but you look at the other stadiums and would you pay £100 to visit Craven Cottage? Is it that much of an experience? It’s a traditional football ground.
“It’s extortionate and they’re exploiting fans at a difficult time for everybody.”
In other news, Kieran Maguire has revealed Liverpool are to cash in as a “surprise” £122million-a-year-plus deal is imminent.