The Premier League is planning to meet fans angry about ticket prices "for the second successive summer when hundreds of them march on its headquarters on Thursday," according to Ben Rumsby of the London TELEGRAPH. The Football Supporters' Federation will lead a protest against price rises in the wake of clubs' new £5.5B ($9.2B) broadcast deal, claiming "nine out of 10" of those who attend matches believe doing so has become too expensive. Thursday's march "will focus on overall prices amid fury" from West Ham supporters about having to pay up to £75 ($120) to watch their side's season opener against Tottenham. The league is ready to listen, "despite having no direct power over prices charged by its clubs" (TELEGRAPH, 8/12). In London, Ben Burrows wrote the FSF said that "the clubs have swelled their coffers enough of late to give the common fan a discount but are choosing not to." The FSF said, "The increase in Premier League media rights alone could have led to all 20 clubs letting in each and every supporter for all 38 games for free last season without being any worse off than they had been the season before." The protest "will begin at Marble Arch on Thursday" at 1pm before heading to Gloucester Place (DAILY MIRROR, 8/12).
