Manchester United fans are outraged after the club unveiled a dramatic hike in beer prices at Old Trafford, just days before the new season of the Premier League kicks off.

Already angry about ticket price hikes over the past few months, many believe the latest move has taken the matchday experience even further beyond the means of average supporters.

Morocco’s coach Tarik Sektioui reflected on three key shortcomings he believes cost the Atlas Lions against Harambee Stars.

The hikes first made themselves felt during Saturday’s pre-season friendly with Fiorentina, which ended 1-1.

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While waiting for their turn to grab a snack, fans were welcomed with a surprise — the cost of a bottle of Carling had gone up by 30%, from £3.80 to £4.95, and a pint of Madri was up enormously by 51%, at £5.75.

Benni McCarthy has reflected on the tactical decisions that helped Harambee Stars edge Morocco’s Atlas Lions.

Such price increases have been greeted by a rapid backlash. The view among supporters is that the large price increase, in addition to already inflated ticket prices, has turned going to the Theatre of Dreams into an expensive luxury rather than a common routine.

“Supporters view the beer price increases as ‘excessive and unjustified. It’s a luxury now,’ a supporter said, summarizing the outrage on social media and among supporters in the stadium.”

Under siege for the move, Manchester United allegedly released a statement to clarify the switch, asserting that the change was nothing more than a reversal of recent reductions rather than a direct leap above historical levels.

“The economic climate dictates that these reductions have had to be withdrawn,” said the club as per The Sun.

The South African gaffer masterminded two gritty CHAN 2024 results, guiding Kenya past Morocco, Angola despite back-to-back red card setbacks.

Prices were already held at lower levels for the previous two seasons under “an initiative spearheaded by fan feedback and appeals to enhance stadium consumption affordability,” the club explained in its announcement.

The club referenced, however, the “25-30% hike in food and beverage prices in the past three years, alongside rising club operating expenses” as justification for the adjustment for the 2025-26 season.

Manchester United also made the point that despite the rise, beer prices at Old Trafford remain below Premier League averages at a pint of around £6. They further added that the prices remained lower than they were three years before when the discount scheme was put in place.

But for the majority match-day fans, such comparisons have done little to remove the sting. On fan forums, some ranted the club was “tone-deaf timing” and insensitive to the already being placed on supporters’ financial hardship.

The Harambee Stars shotstopper has had to overcome alot of challenges to become the commanding presence he is in goal nowadays.

Others warned the joint price rise on tickets and food could lead to supporters imbibing outside the ground and, consequently, spending less on match days.

The controversy over beer prices is just the latest flashpoint in the long-running tension between Manchester United’s management and its loyal supporters, with many now calling for greater consultation before any further cost increases.

At least in the short term, the “beer scandal” looks set to be a buzzword when the new season starts — and fans argue whether paying for a pint at Old Trafford is worth the blow to their wallets.