>
Fury as Australian football club announces THREE-FOLD price increase ahead of controversial former Celtic star’s debut – as league urges minnows to backflip on extortionate valuation
- An Australian football club has massively increased its ticket prices this weekend
- Leigh Griffiths is set to make his debut for third tier outfit Mandurah City
- The semi-professional club has raised its prices from $6 to $20 for his debut
- The league has urged Mandurah to return its prices to $6 for Saturday’s game
<!–
<!–
<!–
<!–
<!–
<!–
A third-tier Australian football club has sparked outrage after increasing their ticket prices by over three times their usual rate ahead of the debut of a former Celtic star this weekend.
Leigh Griffiths, 32, joined Mandurah City this transfer window after spending over 10 years in Scotland, in which he was mired by countless controversies during stints at Celtic, Dundee and Falkirk.
The striker has moved Down Under for a fresh start and is hoping his time with the third-tier side will put him in the frame for a move to an A-League club – with Perth Glory reportedly interested in him.
An Australian club has increased its ticket prices hugely ahead of Leigh Griffiths’ debut
However, semi-pro side Mandurah have upset fans by hiking match ticket prices from the usual rate of $6 to $20 ahead of Griffiths’ debut.
League bosses from Football West have been forced to intervene. In a statement, the competition stated: ‘Our State League competition rules state that a general entry admission fee of $6 may be charged for a Division One match.
‘Football West expects all clubs to comply with competition rules.’
The former Celtic star, 32, will make his debut for Mandurah City this weekend
There is huge interest among fans with Griffiths agreeing to play in the final two games
Former Raith Rovers star John Baird is Mandurah’s coach and admitted that Griffiths’ arrival has come as a huge boost for the club.
‘There’s been massive interest in us since we announced he was signing,’ he said.
‘He was training with Livingston and I suggested to him to come out here and train with us.
‘He asked if he could play a couple of games for us when he was over here and that’s turned into world news! It’s been everywhere.
‘It’s been good for the club and it will be good for my players to play with someone of his calibre.
Ticket prices have risen from $6 to $20, with the league urging the club to perform a backflip
‘He’s had offers in the UK, but it was more about him coming out here and trying a new experience. He’s only just turned 32 and is still in his peak. Players can play until they are 40 now.
‘I’m sure A-League clubs like Perth Glory will be looking at him. There’s no doubt he would enhance the league.
‘Saturday’s game has been capped at 1,000 for safety issues and it should be a fantastic occasion.’