Premiership table toppers United are giving official sponsorship status to an internet site blatantly buying and selling black market tickets in other sports.

Viagogo has gained a high profile from its links with the clubs who allow season ticket holders to find a buyer online when they can't use their seats.

Yet the Rugby Football Union black market probe has found hundreds of tickets being bought and sold in breach of their regulations on the Viagogo site, which was found to have tickets on offer for next Saturday's England match against South Africa at Twickenham.

Lawyer Nick Bitel, who had led the sports industry's fight against the touts, said: "It's an absolute disgrace that a site like Viagogo can advertise itself as being a reputable ticket exchange when in effect it's trading openly in black market tickets.

"It's even offering tickets for the Ryder Cup in 2008 which aren't even in existence.

"And it's disappointing that Manchester United give such a site the credibility that it doesn't deserve."

Former IMG and Nike executive Ian Todd, who is on the Viagogo advisory board, has strong connections with both football clubs.

He negotiated United's monster shirt supply deal with Nike and worked with Chelsea commercial chief Paul Smith at IMG.

A United spokesman said: "We're not responsible for other sports. Viagogo is working well for our supporters."

Meanwhile it's not just the players on big money at Manchester United. Finance director Nick Humby, who is leaving Old Trafford in January to join Top Up TV, having been frustrated reporting to the Glazer family in Florida, is understood to have negotiated an £800,000 pay-off despite giving his notice last month.

< Prev		Next >

Fight For United