Football ticket prices a problem, says David Cameron

Football supporters have received a boost from David Cameron after he acknowledged "there is a problem" with "rapidly" rising ticket prices.

There has been increasing concern from supporter organisations that the cost of tickets to Barclays Premier League games could push fans away from the game.

Liverpool fans staged a mass walkout from the team's game on Saturday at Anfield in protest at next season's prices, when some matchday tickets are due to hit £77.

Mr Cameron, an Aston Villa fan, has said he will look at what can be done to make sure fans have their voices heard at board level when such matters are discussed.

Labour MP Clive Efford (Eltham) raised the issue during PMQs as he called for action.

He said: "The Football Supporters' Federation is considering calling on fans to hold mass walkouts in order to get their voices heard about the issue of ticket prices.

"Will the Prime Minister act to give fans a place at the table in club boardrooms in order that their voices can be heard when issues such as ticket prices are being discussed?"

Mr Cameron replied: "I will look very carefully at the suggestion you make because I think there is a problem here where some teams, some clubs, put up prices very rapidly every year even though so much of the money for football actually comes through the sponsorship and the equipment and other sources.

"I will look very carefully at what you say."

A senior Government source said: "There are growing calls from supporters' groups to do with this. We saw what happened on Saturday at Anfield.

"At the end of the day, it's for clubs - which are increasingly trying to work closely with supporters - to address it.

"Supporters are the life-blood of the sport, and it's very important that people can afford to go and people aren't priced out of games."