Liverpool have issued more than 400 lifetime bans after police seized assets worth over £1.2 million linked to the illegal sale of match tickets, as the Premier League club intensifies its fight against ticket touting.
The club confirmed that 432 people have received lifetime bans, while a further 115 accounts have been suspended indefinitely following a joint operation with Merseyside Police targeting organised ticket touts.
The police investigation focused on identifying and seizing criminal proceeds generated through the illegal resale of match tickets. The operation formed part of Liverpool’s wider campaign to tackle ticket touting both online and at Anfield.
Detective Chief Inspector Nick Suffield praised the collaboration between the police and the club.
“This is a fantastic example of partnership working between ourselves and Liverpool Football Club for the good of the fans and the general public.
“We will always take action to protect genuine fans who fall victim to touts when all they are trying to do is simply purchase tickets to support their team.”
Under UK legislation, proceeds recovered through asset seizures are typically shared between law enforcement agencies and the government. In this case, the recovered funds were divided between Merseyside Police and the Home Office.
Liverpool have significantly increased efforts to combat ticket fraud in recent years. Last year, BBC Sport reported that the club had shut down 145,000 ticketing accounts over a two-year period as part of its anti-touting strategy.
During the 2025/26 season alone, the club analysed nearly 700,000 ticket registrations. As a result, 67,663 suspected fake accounts were blocked or cancelled, while another 121,379 accounts remain under investigation.
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The club also cancelled 3,847 tickets because of suspicious purchasing activity during the season. Those tickets were returned to general sale, allowing legitimate supporters another opportunity to attend matches.
Liverpool further strengthened matchday enforcement by increasing targeted checks at stadium entrances. On average, around 300 supporters with suspicious ticket activity were stopped at each home game at Anfield. Similar checks were carried out at away fixtures in both the Premier League and European competitions.
The club has repeatedly urged supporters to buy tickets only through official channels, warning that tickets obtained from unauthorised sellers may be cancelled without notice and could result in stadium bans for those involved in illegal resale.
(BBC)
