THE Football Action Network (F.A.N) played down the Premier League’s £30 cap on away tickets yesterday, saying it is not a “victory for supporters.”

While teams and fans celebrated the news of the cap — which starts next season and lasts three years — F.A.N were critical of the decision, pointing out that it was just a start and that there is still a long way to go before clubs stopped treating supporters as consumers.

They said: “A £30 cap on away tickets in the Premier League is not a ‘victory for supporters.’ [It is] more crumbs from the top table.

“Fair play to fans groups taking direct action but it can’t stop till all those priced out of the game they love return. Home and away.

“Supporters have all the tools they need to force affordable football. Let’s see how much we all ‘want it’ in the months ahead.

“Let’s see a coherent plan for affordable football across all leagues now. We owe it to our friends and family priced out of the game they built.”

Campaign group Twenty’s Plenty, who continue to fight for a cap of £20 on away tickets, also believe that while this is a start, more needs to be done.

“What a day to be alive. Great work everyone. It’s not #TwentysPlenty BUT it’s a start and a step in the right direction.”

That sentiment was echoed by shadow sports minister Clive Efford, who said: “This is a welcome step in the right direction but it is still £10 above the level that fans have called for.

“The Football Supporters’ Federation must be congratulated on the effectiveness of their campaign.

“The Labour Party has consistently raised concerns about fans being priced out of the game, and has called for supporters to have a greater say in the running and ownership of their clubs.”

The Football Supporters’ Federation welcomed the move, calling it a “day of celebration.”

Chief executive Kevin Miles said: “It is going to make a lot of difference to a lot of fans and has got to be a good thing. This is definitely a day of celebration for us.

“Away fans generate a lot of the noise, even home fans spark off them. Their attendance is absolutely vital and this will give that attendance quite a boost.

“We are also optimistic that such is the amount of money available to those clubs that some will go even further.”

One of the clubs going further is Arsenal, who will subsidise fans’ tickets by £4, with the club saying: “This will ensure no Arsenal fans will pay more to support Arsenal at Premier League away games than the lowest priced £26 ticket that both visiting and home fans can pay to watch their teams at [Ashburton Grove].”