The Premier League club said an ‌investigation launched in July found 1,617 accounts ‌where unusual activity was occurring and required further ‌review, but that season-ticket bans were handed down ‌only in cases involving significant misuse of the ticketing system for financial gain.

Hundreds of cases were closed ‌without punishment after supporters provided information ⁠explaining flagged activity, ‌the club said on Friday, while others received warnings ​or limited restrictions on ticket forwarding and away-ticket applications.

"The club's guiding principle around ​ticketing is simple: to keep our fans safe and secure, to protect fair access to tickets ⁠for genuine ​Manchester United supporters and to tackle ticket touting, misuse and activity for financial gain," the club said in a statement.

The 1958 Manchester United fans' ‌group is organising a protest ahead of Sunday's derby clash with Manchester City, arguing the club's handling of its ticket touting crackdown was heavy-handed.

"Manchester United are sanctioning and banning loyal, generational Reds without clear and compelling evidence," the group said in a post on X. "These owners want rid of lifelong matchgoers. Their strategy is ‌clear to see. It’s a cull!

"If there is ​clear, substantive evidence of serious wrongdoing or ‌organised ticket touting, show it. No loyal supporter should be treated as guilty without being given a fair opportunity to understand and challenge the case against them."

United maintained the ⁠operation had uncovered ⁠organised networks trading tickets ‌across hundreds of accounts.