Boastful Leeds United tweet highlighted EFL ticketing issue but other Championship clubs should take note

“Is it any surprise” was the general response, especially when the Whites are repeatedly charging £39 for adult away tickets at Elland Road.

That’s more than all 20 Premier League clubs following a 2016 rule which capped top-flight away tickets to £30. More than a quarter of those are priced below the cap at £26.

Why the EFL haven’t introduced a similar rule is unclear and appears an extremely passive approach.

Following a team up and down the country isn’t cheap, especially when you factor in travel, food and potential accommodation costs. Yet some supporters will pay it.

It therefore seems ridiculously unfair that some clubs are consistently allowed to take advantage of supporters’ loyalties by charging over the £30 threshold.

Back in 2017, Virgin Media ran out the ‘Twenty’s Plenty’ campaign which meant all away fans paid no more than £20 for matchday tickets over one weekend in April.

Some Championship clubs are charging similar prices already.

An away ticket at West Brom, for example, regularly costs £20 while children aged 11-17 can visit the Hawthorns for £10. That's almost half the price charged by Leeds.

Like many Championship clubs, Middlesbrough’s away tickets are priced at £30 for adult away fans and £17 for under-18s. That’s the same amount as some matchday tickets in the home section of the ground.

But do ticket prices really need to be that high?

Obviously ticket income is a source of revenue when it comes to running costs and abiding by financial fair play regulations, yet due to the rise of TV income and inflated transfer fees, it can’t be deemed the biggest factor in the Championship.

With no fans, there is no atmosphere, and the recent agreement to show all EFL mid-week games live on Sky Sports’ red button service provides another reason for supporters not to attend.

So how can Championship clubs solve the dwindling attendance issue? Reducing ticket prices would be a start.