A SAINTS fan has been given the red card from the club for life after they were nabbed selling an FA Cup final ticket on the black market.

The unnamed supporter was punished with a lifetime ban after team officials spotted the sought-after ticket for Saturday's clash with Arsenal on an Internet auction site.

They were able to trace it back to the original seller and discovered it belonged to a season ticket holder in the Northam End.

The fan was sent a letter informing him of the ban from the St Mary's Stadium yesterday and the club is warning others they face similar punishments if caught.

Saints secretary Brian Truscott said: "We have traced the original purchaser and we are in the process of sending out a letter to inform them they are banned from the ground for life.

"They will also be banned from entering all club premises and from buying any future match or season tickets. Hopefully this will send a strong warning to anyone else considering doing the same thing.

"All tickets are logged and any discovered on the black market will be traced back and we will take appropriate action."

Tickets have been changing hands for hundreds of pounds on websites and the Daily Echo reported last week that one fan bid £10,000 for a seat at the Millennium Stadium.

There is a chance that the unlucky supporter who bought the ticket that led to the Saints fans' ban will be refused admission to Saturday's game after the incident was reported to the FA.

Official tickets are still in the process of being sent out to members and season ticket holders.

Saints' supporters have been given 25,000 for the game, with 17,000 going straight to season ticket holders.

A spokesman for the Football Association said they would forward information to the police if they were informed of tickets being sold on the black market.