Chelsea and Manchester United have launched a new ticketing exchange system in an effort to clamp down on ticket touts.

The clubs have both signed an agreement with secondary ticket exchange company viagogo to operate the online programme, which is receiving a luke warm reception from supporters' groups.

The system allows season ticket holders to sell unused match tickets back to the club for 85 per cent of their face value. viagogo will then resell the tickets to registered fans of the clubs with an additional 10 per cent commission charged on top.

The company has been set up by Eric Baker, the founder of StubHub.com – a similar system which launched in the US – who said: "We offer genuine fans the opportunity to buy or sell tickets in a safe, convenient and guaranteed online environment."

Supporters' groups have been less than enthusiastic, claiming that the 25 per cent earned by viagogo amounts to little more than legalised touting and that the existing 'code' for fans reselling tickets dictates that they should only charge face value.

viagogo claims that the clubs will benefit by only giving registered fans access to extra tickets, reducing the chance of hooliganism, but both Chelsea and Manchester Utd will gain more from the six-figure annual sponsorship deals which have been signed.