Sunday afternoon is likely to be the biggest afternoon in quite some time of the history of Newcastle United. The Magpies are in a cup final for the first time in the 21st century, and they are hoping to take their first major silverware in nearly 70 years.
It's been quite the wait since that 1955 FA Cup win, and Manchester United now stand between Newcastle and the EFL Cup. Newcastle have seen a dramatic turnaround in form in recent months - in part down to the managerial capabilities of Eddie Howe, and in part down to the enormous money piled in by the controversial Saudi-backed ownership.
Sunday is nonetheless set to be a special day for the club and, with allocations in Wembley limiting supporter numbers, Newcastle fans are desperate to get their hands on the 'golden ticket' for the biggest game yet in the club's modern history.
One former Newcastle player has seemingly taken advantage of the understandable desperation of Newcastle fans to snatch a ticket to Sunday's final, with Nile Ranger advertising tickets for the match for exorbitant prices on his social media.
Nile Ranger slated by Newcastle fans for cup final ticket scheme
Nile Ranger's time at Newcastle United did not exactly go swimmingly, nor did he last long in the North East of England.
Ranger made his senior debut for the club in 2009, but made only 62 appearances over the next four years before being released from his contract in March 2013 after criticising the fans of the club on social media.
Now, Ranger has seemingly attempted to return to Newcastle spheres ahead of the club's EFL Cup appearance on Sunday afternoon.
Ranger shared a post to his Instagram story on Thursday reading "Tickets available - Carabao cup" with some outrageous prices quoted.
I wouldn’t ever normally do something like this but I have reported Nile Ranger directly to Club Wembley.
It’s disgusting to see a former Newcastle United with a history of online banking fraud trying to profit off the fans 😡#NUFC pic.twitter.com/FEqPO8zde5— Adam Pearson (YT) ⚫️⚪️ (@AdamP1242) February 23, 2023
Ranger quoted prices starting from £2150 per ticket for the Newcastle end at Wembley, and prices starting from £1150 per ticket for the Manchester United end. Given the most expensive standard ticket sold by Newcastle to fans for the game was at a reasonable rate of £100, Ranger's quoted prices are a disgrace.
Excitement is building among Newcastle fans for a nerve-wracking day on Sunday, but fans were united for an altogether different reason on Thursday.
Widespread condemnation came for the club's former player, with fans taking to social media to slam Ranger for attempting to take advantage of the demand for tickets by exploiting Newcastle supporters.
Some players become a coach or a pundit after their career. Not Nile Ranger though, he became a ticket tout https://t.co/thRjdfd9cD
— The Lower Tiers (@LowerTiers) February 23, 2023
Nile Ranger really is a piece of 💩
He’s not selling those tickets (if they even exist) for the victims of the Turkey & Syria earthquakes. He’s doing it to line his own pockets. The lads a fraudster!!
Ashamed he ever wore the ⚫️⚪️— Laura NUFC1892 🖤🤍🖤 (@lspark89) February 23, 2023
Loads of people calling him a grass in the comments. They’re not true football fans. Nike Ranger is ripping off his own fan base, knowing they’ll pay these extreme prices. £2000 is nearly a monthly wage for 90% of people. This is pure extortion. #NUFC #CarabaoCupFinal #NileRanger https://t.co/UUMrUKToV0
— Bob’s your uncle (@JustAFootieFan) February 23, 2023
Nile ranger on a pretty normal one pic.twitter.com/FnOuaDxk5T
— matt (@mattjohnson18_) February 23, 2023
I don't get it. Nile Ranger has put a bunch of Cup Final tickets up for sale at RIDICULOUS prices. But like openly, not even hiding his name.
He's still playing football and has a contract with Boreham Wood I think. How does he think he can just do that?
So confused.— ⚪️ⓈⒶⓇⒶ⚫️ (@SJ_NUFC) February 23, 2023
Any Newcastle fans got a spare £2150 for the final let Nile Ranger know 😅😅😭😭 #NUFC pic.twitter.com/gwdcgGjNy1
— Chad ⚫️⚪️ (@chad_presley) February 23, 2023
Nile Ranger really doing his bit to clear his name here https://t.co/puny7L2bl4
— CPFC HQ (@CPFCHQ) February 23, 2023
Ranger has faced legal trouble in the past, with multiple criminal charges preceding a prison sentence for conspiracy to defraud in 2017. He ultimately served 10 weeks of an eight month sentence. He most recently played for Boreham Wood, before departing in 2022.
Ranger responded to the criticism from Newcastle fans with a rather unexpected follow-up message to his Instagram story, after deleting his initial post sharing ticket prices.
He suggested that fans should focus their energy on helping the victims of the recent earthquakes in Syria and Turkey, rather than slating him for his preposterous ticket-selling tactics.
Questionable, to say the least.
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