Fans being turned off by game

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

Around 73% of supporters polled by a research company on behalf of CentreForum, an independent think-tank aligned to this week's Liberal Democratic conference, said they felt excluded from the game.

The chief executive of Supporters Direct, Dave Boyle, said: "The game seems to be relentlessly pursuing poorer fans and forcing them to make ever greater sacrifices."

He added: "For all the talk of the glamour and the global impact of the game, of billionaires and now trillionaires, there's a price being paid at the sharp end.

"That price keeps getting higher and the people who are hurt the most by this are the people in the poorest communities who have traditionally been the bedrock of the game, who have helped build it and make it what it is today."

Of those fans priced out of live football, 77% said they wished to watch more live sport than they do. Also, 75% said it has become too expensive to attend a live game at a stadium or sports ground.

Former Chelsea and England international Graeme Le Saux said: "Football fans create the great atmosphere that is a crucial part of what makes playing in the Premiership so special.

"We must ensure that people of all ages and backgrounds are not priced out of seeing their team play. It would be football's loss."

Don Foster, the Shadow Liberal Democrat Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, vowed to address the issue in Parliament next month in a bid to ensure the game's traditional fan-base is not excluded.

Foster said: "We have a Premier League with the lowest number of home-grown players in Europe, rip-off ticket prices at our grounds, and rising costs to watch live sport on TV. I along with Parliamentary colleagues will be raising this issue with Government when the House returns next month, to see what can be done to ease the pain of ordinary football fans."