West Londoners vastly overestimate value of watching their team

Standing firmly on the side of fans who are tired of being ripped off at stadia up and down the country, Derby County, have refused to accept a ticket price hike imposed by QPR for their visit to Loftus Road on September 27:

The club said a pre-season price of £30 for adults and £20 for concessions had been agreed but had been sent tickets priced £10 above those amounts by QPR.

Club spokesman Matt McCann told BBC Radio Derby: “We think it’s too high and we don’t think that’s fair.

“We have stood our ground and QPR have exercised their right to appeal that to the Football League.”

Regardless of our completely fudged economy, how many Rams fans would be willing to pay out £40 to see a side that has not won a league match on the road since March 2007 (excluding the May 2007 play-offs, that is)?

It’s pretty extortionate for a Championship tie, particularly considering that Manchester Utd are charging £41 for most Premier League away fans who visit Old Trafford this season.

If Derby fans are looking for a way to protest against against Queens Park Rangers’ co-owner Flavio Briatore, perhaps they should pelt him with wet sand, much like disgruntled Italians did when he and his billionaire cohorts recently crossed a Sardinian beach.