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By Mike Keegan and Liam Morgan
Published: | Updated:
Two Manchester United fans have been banned by the club after a Mail Sportexpose into supporters who falsely gained entry to disabled sections to watch matches.
Mick Groom and Neil Collins were accused of taking ‘gold dust’ tickets they were not entitled to use, in a move that sparked fury among United’s disabled fanbase.
Multiple complaints were made to United officials by members of the club’s disabled supporters’ association, who claimed able-bodied fans were posing as disabled to grab precious spots.
United launched an investigation and it is understood that two, three-year bans have been handed out. Groom and Collins have the right to appeal.
Mail Sport obtained material from three away matches this season, at Newport County, Luton Town and Brentford. Groom, from Essex, was acting as a carer all three.
Mick Groom and Neil Collins falsely gained entry to disabled sections to watch matches
Groom (right) posted on social media ahead of Saturday's FA Cup final to confirm the ban
The two supporters were accused of taking ‘gold dust’ tickets they were not entitled to use
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At Luton and Brentford he was joined by Collins, who was in a wheelchair. Neither of the men, who are both from Essex, were registered as disabled with United. Both have season tickets for home matches in the regular section at Old Trafford and have now had those suspended.
United are examining how they managed to enter disabled sections at the matches. Tickets for United away matches – particularly at smaller venues – are incredibly difficult to obtain and viewed as the holy grail among supporters. Those in disabled areas are deemed even more precious thanks to how few in number they are.
United’s probe has also focussed on who, from what is a minute pool, provided the tickets for the pair.After the game at Luton, for which United were given just five spaces, Groomposted a picture on Facebook of an empty wheelchair with the caption: ‘It’s a miracle.’
Legitimate United disabled supporters were outraged. Mail Sport was told that one, seriously ill fan had applied to attend the game at Rodney Parade thinking it may be their last opportunity to watch their team, but was unsuccessful.
Groom’s partner, Rachel Stam, claimed he had done nothing wrong when she answered the door at their house.
‘Mick is definitely not part of any scam,’ she said. ‘He's not that kind of person. I think that sometimes he’s branded because he’s covered in tattoos, but he’s got one of the biggest hearts and United is his passion.’
Chas Banks, chair of MUDSA, hailed United’s actions. ‘I welcome this move by the club,’ he said. ‘They deserve great credit for putting the work in and doing the right thing for their genuinely disabled fans.’
Groom has shared a handful of images on social media - Collins was nicknamed 'Captain Vile'
A set of images shows Collins in a wheelchair before standing up and walking out of a cubicle
Groom, with Eric Cantona (right), was, alongside Collins and Wood, was essentially branded 'horrible' and 'selfish' by the secretary of Manchester United Disabled Supporters' Association
United declined to comment, other than to confirm the ban. At the time, a spokesperson said: ‘Tickets in wheelchair sections are always in extremely high demand, especially at away matches, and our number one priority is making sure that the fans who need to be in this section have the opportunity.
‘The suspected misuse of these tickets was discussed at our recent Fans’ Forum, and we will be supporting the request of the Manchester United Disabled Supporters Association (MUDSA) to implement ID ticket collections - as well as more spot checks - at away fixtures to ensure these tickets cannot be misused.’
Luton Town
