Premier League ticket price protests: FSF chairman hopes publicity leads to real change, with £30 away tickets to start

Liverpool fans walked out of their most recent Premier League match after 77 minutes

Liverpool fans protest at an increase in ticket prices (GETTY IMAGES)

Football Supporters' Federation chairman Malcolm Clarke says recent publicity over ticket price increases could help sway Barclays Premier League clubs to set a £30 price cap for away fans.

The FSF expressed its dismay last week when talks involving representatives of all 20 top-flight clubs failed to yield the two-thirds majority required to push through the move.

But last week's mass walk-out by Liverpool fans at Anfield has placed the issue back on the agenda and Clarke hopes it could prick the conscience of officials when they reconvene for another meeting next month.

Clarke told Press Association Sport: "The proposal to have a £30 cap on away tickets was blocked by a number of clubs but with the publicity and focus on the issue there is now a groundswell of support for change.

"When the clubs meet again to discuss the issue hopefully it will get the required level of support. It won't necessarily be as much as we want, but at least a £30 cap on away prices would be a good start."

Clarke said he did not believe a united campaign to force down home prices would necessarily work, despite thousands of Liverpool fans expressing their displeasure at next season's prices, with some tickets set to cost £77.

A number of clubs have announced plans to freeze season ticket prices for next season, while West Ham have reduced prices for their move to the Olympic Stadium.

Clarke added: "The Liverpool protest was about home prices and the picture on home prices is varied - some clubs are still offering some season tickets at under £300, so supporters of those clubs will feel less need to start walking out."

Fans' anger has been heightened by the incoming £5.1billion television rights deal, which the FSF believes would allow clubs to let every supporter into every home game for free next season and still bring in the same revenue.

Protests have spread to Germany, regularly held up as an example of low pricing, where Borussia Dortmund fans threw tennis balls on the pitch during a DFB-Pokal (German Cup) match on Tuesday night in protest at a rise in ticket costs.

PA