English football fans are being charged up to 89 per cent more than their foreign counterparts for attending Champions League matches, a new study has found.

The cheapest seats at English clubs, averaging £35, are more than double the price at Spanish clubs Barcelona, Real Madrid and Valencia, where the average cost is just £15, the research from Virgin Money found.

Russian clubs Spartak Moscow and CSKA Moscow charge an average of £4 for the cheapest seats, while at Real Madrid, members can buy tickets for £3. Lyon was found to have the most expensive tickets, costing as much as £210.

The chairman of the Football Supporter's Federation, said: "There is no justification whatsoever for the way clubs here pick the pockets of their most loyal supporters. Champions League football is simply beyond the pocket of many supporters in this country."

With rising energy costs and last month's interest rate rise eating away at savings, some football fans may choose to take out a personal or secured loan as a way of funding larger expenses such as buying a new car, or home improvements.

Research from Virgin Money found that the cost of attending domestic football matches has risen by 17.1 per cent since February, now costing around £91.29, including items such as match tickets, food, petrol and replica shirts.

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