The club uncovered what they described as a "scam" before Sunday’s 2-1 win and stopped more than 150 fans from getting into home areas, the majority of which had been sold to Liverpool supporters.

Those fans who bought the tickets through unofficial online sellers were unable to get into the Amex and are being urged to report the “shameless exploitation” to their banks to recover funds.

Jenny Gower, Albion’s head of supporter services, said: "Fans were being charged up to £250 for tickets, which were essentially worthless.

• READ MORE: Albion hopeful on Ferguson - as PGMOL admit Fabinho should have seen red

"It's an absolutely shameless exploitation of football fans. Those who have fallen victim to this scam should contact their banks or credit card company to recover their funds.

"Our message is quite clear, touts have no place in football. We don't want them here and we will do all we can to stop them from exploiting home or away fans coming to the Amex.

Liverpool players celebrate Harvey Elliott's opener (Image: PA)

"We understand that there are fans who are desperate to see their team, but we have a clear and fair ticketing policy and system at the Amex. We would remind fans of this, and also reaffirm in the strongest terms to only buy tickets from the club."

Fans must set up an online account with Brighton and Hove Albion to purchase tickets. The 150 tickets blocked at the turnstiles were from more than 100 accounts set up on the club's website, which have now been suspended.

Suspected Liverpool fans could still be seen in the home end celebrating Harvey Elliott’s opener despite the club’s crackdown on the touting scam.

The club acknowledged fans’ concerns around visiting supporters in the home areas of the Amex and said it is working to address the issue following feedback into the supporter services team.

The Argus echoed those concerns after Aston Villa fans were seen in the home sections, with one fan even posting a video of himself before kissing his badge during Brighton’s 2-1 loss in November.

A smoke bomb was thrown on to the pitch after Villa's second goal to beat Albion (Image: PA)

Chants of “stand up if you love Villa” and “we’ll sit where we want” were also directed from away supporters to other Villa fans in the home sections.

Fans have also reported seeing other away fans in the home sections, including at the league matches against Liverpool, Arsenal, and Tottenham.

Brighton wanted to remind a “very small minority” that they must not transfer their home tickets to away supporters. Those who do will face sanctions for breaching the club’s ticketing terms and conditions.

These conditions state that each home supporter match ticket is issued "for your sole use and you shall not sell, dispose of, assign, transfer, lend or otherwise deal with the home supporter match ticket or the benefit of it to any other person without the prior written consent of the club".

It adds: "Further you shall not use the home supporter match ticket for any commercial purpose."

Mitoma scores the winner for Brighton on Sunday (Image: PA)

The conditions state that by applying and/or using a home supporter match ticket, individuals “warrant and represent that you are a supporter of the club”.

They also state that any attempt to access home sections of the ground wearing or carrying apparel that demonstrates support for the away club “may result in admission being refused or you being ejected from the ground” with no refund.

What is ticket touting?

Ticket touting is the process of buying tickets for an event and then selling them at an inflated price.

The general resale of football tickets is illegal under the criminal justice and public order act 1994 unless the resale is authorised by the organiser of the match. 

Albion said the only place to buy tickets safely and with confidence is through its website.

Other teams have authorised ticket sellers which they normally state on their website.

Chelsea have 12 authorised ticket sellers on their website including Eventmasters and Viagogo.

They also have a list of unauthorised sellers which includes dozens of different websites.

Other Premier League clubs have a list of authorised ticket sellers.

There are four different pieces of legislation that deal with ticket touting: the criminal justice and public order act 1994, the violent crime reduction act 2006, the ticket touting (designation of football matches) order 2007 and the consumer rights act amendment 2015.

Ticket touters in the past have been found guilty of fraudulent trading which can lead to prison sentences and orders to pay money back.

The UK's first successful prosecution and conviction against a company fraudulently reselling tickets on a large scale was made in December last year.

BZZ Limited sold hundreds of tickets for music concerts, making a net profit of £3.5 million in the process.

One of the touters was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison, while the other was sentenced to six years in 2020.

In December, the two individuals were ordered to pay back more than £6 million or face additional time on to their sentences.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp during Liverpool's defeat in the Premier League earlier this month (Image: PA)

A football banning order can also be imposed on a tout as a preventative measure.

Jenny Gower added: "Our stewards removed a significant number of supporters in home areas, and we would remind any supporters buying general admission tickets from us, that our terms and conditions make clear we do not permit away fans in home areas.

"Our supporters were excellent on Sunday, getting right behind Roberto De Zerbi and the team as they pulled off an historic win. They created a wonderful atmosphere which contributed to an amazing FA Cup tie.”

PC Darren Balkham, dedicated football officer for Surrey and Sussex, said: “We applaud the club for taking this prompt action and remind all supporters to only purchase from authorised ticket outlets.

"Do not be fooled by a Google search; only the football clubs can give you the right information on where to purchase match day tickets. Where sellers are identified, we will look to take action and liaise with other law enforcement agencies.”