Premier League clubs are beginning to process ticket refunds for matches that are expected to be played behind closed doors, after the UK Government announced on Monday that professional sport could resume in England from June 1.
The UK Government released a 50-page document this week spelling out how England can move towards easing lockdown measures, which have been in place since March following the COVID-19 outbreak.
The announcement that professional sport could resume behind closed doors from June 1 potentially paves the way for the Premier League to return next month without fans.
With that in mind, clubs are beginning to inform their supporters on how to recuperate funds from tickets that were purchased for games that they will be banned from attending.
Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, there are still 92 games of the 2019-20 Premier League season remaining.
Manchester City has announced it will refund supporters either for individual match tickets or, in the case of season cardholders, for the value of six home games left in the competition. The club has also offered fans the option to transfer the total cost of the ticket into match credit for next season.
Norwich City has also made the decision to begin the rebate process for those that have committed to a matchday or seasonal product for the remaining Premier League games or FA Cup tie in the 2019-20 season.
Brighton and Hove Albion has also followed suit and confirmed it will refund season ticket holders for the final five games.
Meanwhile, Liverpool, the club that currently sits at the top of the league, reportedly said it would hold off on processing refunds for the remainder of 2019-20 until it gets official confirmation on behind-closed doors fixtures, Standard Sport reports.
Last month, the Mirror newspaper concluded that Premier League clubs are set to lose out on £177m in match-day revenue if the season is concluded in front of empty stands. Refunding season ticket holders across the league could cost upwards of £101m, while a further £76m would be lost in corporate clients’ reimbursements and other sources of match-day income.
Manchester United would reportedly lose the most in match day income if games are held behind closed doors. The club earned £110m in ticket sales and other match-day revenue last year, which would equate to a £25m loss if no fans attend its remaining four home games.
Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool would lose £20m each after making over £80m in ticket and hospitality sales in the 2018-19 campaign.
Image: Yurificacion
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