Traveling to see our Reds play at Old Trafford is a rite of passage for many of us. In my experiences viewing games, there’s nothing like making the walk along the path to Old Trafford while taking in the sights and sounds of Manchester, or sitting down at the pubs in London to gather with fellow Manchester United supporters before the match. These experiences are essential to true Man U support – but what happens when we try to replicate that experience abroad? As the Beautiful Game continues to grow more and more popular, many clubs now travel to different countries to play exhibition matches. While this is a great way to promote awareness of our club, it also means that supporters can undoubtedly find themselves in some unlikely situations that may raise legal questions.
According to Business Traveller, Manchester United will make five stops in the United States to play friendlies against various teams in July. The destinations for the required travels will be San Jose, Santa Clara, Irvine, Washington D.C. and East Rutherford in New Jersey. While thousands of supporters will travel to these areas to cheer on our team, many of them will be underage. According to The Brisbane Manchester United Supporters Club, the general age of members is 18+ with some supporting members as young as 8 years old. With this in mind, and with no real way to know the age of all members traveling from Australia to see a match, it’s crucial to understand a large selection of the laws in America, especially when it comes to the legal age of consent. Virginia is one state where many members could find themselves facing a serious legal issue if they are not properly informed of the legal age of consent and the laws surrounding underage activity.
In the U.S., the legal age of consent is determined by each state. In the state of Virginia, the legal age of consent is 18, according to FindLaw. In some circumstances, 16 is the legal age of consent. However, all parties involved must be over the age of 18 for the relationship to be legal. If any party involved is under the age of 18, criminal charges can be issued. According to the Virginia Law Website, some particular acts that can result in criminal charges include: When our team hits the United States for exhibition matches, local municipalities will implement rules and regulations for the exhibition match. Understanding these rules can lead to an enjoyable stay in that part of the country.
Depending on the situation, the United States may even offer visa exemptions which will provide the opportunity for fans to visit the game without the hassle of applying for a lengthy visitor’s visa. Virginia is one place where having knowledge of the legal age of consent might come in handy for fans traveling from Australia to the United States for an exhibition match. This is because the majority of the organized supporter clubs for Manchester United are made up of fans older than 18. By 2010, 2013, and 2015 estimates, there were more than 300 Manchester United supporter clubs in existence. Most supporters clubs are located in the United Kingdom or Europe. However, there are over 100 clubs located in other regions of the world.
In Brisbane, Australia, their own Manchester United supporters club is widely used to promote involvement and attendance to games, both locally and internationally. A large non-profit supporters club coordinated by fans and for fans, The Brisbane Manchester United Supporters Club provides a wide variety of membership options for their club in Australia. With the opportunity to apply online to join in 5 simple steps, fans can register to become annual club members. Annual membership comes with many advantages such as access to trip bulletins, reminders to sign up for events, and information on available tickets to home and away matches.
When looking to participate in international travel, it’s important to pay attention to the laws that have been enacted in those locations. For example, most sporting events will require fans to show evidence of previous ticket purchases or fan memberships. In large metropolitan areas, this fan participation is common and is typically required by the venue itself. Outside of sporting events, some of the areas where certain laws can affect fans include: Having a good understanding of these local laws can lead to a more relaxed experience while visiting a new location. Many fans enjoy watching their favorite teams play while they’re away visiting another location. Being informed of the legal age of consent in each area will help fans to have a good time without any risk of criminal penalties that could end in deportation.
When traveling to a different region or country, there are countless laws that could potentially affect your overall experience. It’s important to review these legal restrictions to avoid mishaps associated with underage activity or fines that could arise due to unwanted circumstances.