Tim Ball

Top Premiership football clubs are charging fans up to 45% more than the national average for a pint of beer, according to research by the Liberal Democrats.

The figures show that:

• 19 out of 20 clubs charge more than the national average for a pint of lager (£2.76) - Chelsea are the worst charging £4 per pint, earning £353,400 more per season than if they charged their fans a fair price
• Premier League clubs make just over £11m a season from over-inflated lager prices
• In comparison, the price of a pint at Rugby Union and Rugby League clubs is up to 15% less
• If prices were set at the national average they would bring in around £9.3m, meaning football fans are being overcharged to the tune of £1.7m a season

Commenting, Liberal Democrat Shadow Culture, Media and Sport Secretary, Don Foster said:

"Unfortunately, it comes as little surprise to me that Premier League football fans are, once again, being ripped off.

"As if extortionate ticket prices weren't bad enough, top flight football clubs are charging over the odds for a basic pint. This blatant profiteering should not continue to go unnoticed.

"It's outrageous that football fans should be charged so much more than rugby fans - 40p might not seem a lot, but over the course of a season it soon mounts up.

"When will Premier League football clubs learn to stop taking the loyalty of their fans for granted?"