Manchester City have banned the accounts of 165 supporters for ticket touting following an investigation.

After reports of away supporters in home areas in games against Feyenoord, Manchester United and Real Madrid the club looked into how tickets are becoming available.

As a result, 165 accounts have received a ban for touting with 354 suspended and 223 being ‘closely monitored’.

City told a meeting with the City Matters Fan Network, external that they want all general admission seats in home areas to be occupied by Manchester City fans, and they never knowingly sell tickets to away fans.

A security expert told the BBC two years ago that the black market of Premier League ticket touting was worth more than £50m per year.

Rivals Manchester United said they cannot “completely eliminate” the possibility of away fans obtaining tickets in areas designated for home supporters at Old Trafford after Rangers fans were seen celebrating a goal in January.

City have 37,000 season-ticket holders, and fans are able to transfer tickets to other supporters if they cannot attend a match.

The club said that, on average, a home Premier League match sees 15% of season-ticket members transfer their ticket to a friend or family member, 10% list them on the club’s official ticket exchange and 8% do not attend.

City’s next home game is against Brighton in the Premier League on 15 March.