United face pressure over results and ticket probe

Manchester United are facing mounting pressure over their poor start to the Premier League season and a separate dispute with supporters over the club’s investigation into ticket misuse. The team has one win in its first five league matches, while the ticket probe has led to hundreds of accounts being banned or supporters sanctioned or warned, according to figures released by the club. United identified 1,617 accounts showing unusual activity, banned 685 accounts and sanctioned or warned 464 supporters, the club said. It described the investigation as targeting significant misuse for financial gain, including organised ticketing networks. United said season tickets released through the process would be offered to people on the waiting list. The club’s figures have not been independently verified in the supplied reporting. Some supporters have disputed how the investigation was handled and said they were not told what conduct had triggered a review. A United supporter quoted in one account said 31 season-ticket holders in the Portadown supporters’ branch received restriction emails.