Getting a ticket and getting to the match

There is nothing like being at the ground for a big fixture. This page explains how to get a genuine ticket in England and Wales, starting with the club, with help for disabled fans, and a short note at the end on the law about selling tickets and how to check a seller before you pay.

Start with the club

The Premier League advises fans to buy tickets directly from the clubs. Its own tickets page links to each club's ticket office. At many clubs, home tickets go to members first. Some clubs sell almost only to members and season ticket holders, and a general sale is rare.

Each club sets its own rules, and they can change from season to season. The club's own ticket pages are the place to read the current ones.

Tickets and access for disabled fans

Level Playing Field works for disabled sports fans. It publishes guidance on accessible venues and on ticketing for disabled supporters. It also explains what fans can do after a bad experience at a ground.

Why the official route matters

The Premier League warns that a ticket bought from an unofficial source can be cancelled. If that happens, the holder cannot get into the match.

In England and Wales, section 166 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 deals with ticket touting at football. It is an offence for an unauthorised person to sell a ticket for a designated match, or to pass one on to someone else. A person is unauthorised unless the match organisers have authorised them in writing. The law reads "selling" widely. It includes offering a ticket for sale, making one available for someone else to sell, and advertising that a ticket is available. The offence can lead to a fine of up to level 5 on the standard scale.

The matches are set by the Ticket Touting (Designation of Football Matches) Order 2007. It covers matches in England and Wales where a team represents a club in the Premier League, the Football League, the Football Conference or the League of Wales. It also covers matches involving a national team, and matches with a club from outside England and Wales. Some matches abroad are covered too. These include games played by the England or Wales national teams, and by clubs from those leagues. Section 166 applies in England and Wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own law.

Citizens Advice lists some signs of a scam. A deal may seem too good to be true. The seller may push you to transfer money quickly, or ask you to pay in an unusual way, such as with vouchers. There may be no postal address, or no written confirmation of what you agreed. Citizens Advice also suggests looking up a company's details on GOV.UK. A padlock in the browser's address bar does not prove that a seller is real.

Useful links