Stop ripping off football fans

THERE are two parts to my wishlist about what I would most like to see happen in the world of sport in 2021. The first part is obvious: the return of fans to stadiums and events.

The second part is also about fans: it would be nice if football clubs — and particularly a raft of Premier League football clubs — stopped ripping them off. Professional sport is not the same without fans. We knew that already but the pandemic has allowed us to see just how radically it changes the experience of sport for all of us, including the players. Perhaps especially the players. Top-level sport without fans downgrades the experience. It strips it of colour and atmosphere and passion and depth. The television companies have recognised that: it is why they pipe in that fan noise during commentaries so they can try to disguise that part of their product is missing.

The clubs should acknowledge this. They owe the fans, not the other way round. They depend on them to make their product attractive and their prices for season tickets should start to reflect that. And if they don’t recognise it, then the fans will. They are what makes the product special. If the clubs keep ripping them off, they know now they have the power to make a stand.

PREDICTIONS for 2021: Lewis Hamilton will win an eighth F1 drivers’ world title, Anthony Joshua will beat Tyson Fury, Lionel Messi will be signed by Manchester City, Spurs will win a trophy but Harry Kane will leave, Watford will sack at least one manager, Arsenal will stay up, Leeds will score a few and concede a few, Rafa Nadal will overtake Roger Federer for most men’s Grand Slam titles and Rory McIlroy will win the US Masters.