As others have said, giving them the tickets is surely consenting. Regardless of what these lads said at the window, the TO should have attempted to cross reference this letter of authorisation with some kind of email from Tony, or they should have attempted to give Tony a call at that moment and check it was all cool. I've had that done in the past.
Otherwise anyone could start writing these letters and turning up on match days. So for me the club shouldn't have issued the paper tickets, and instead should have contacted Tony to say that some people were trying to get in using his ID so to speak. But since they issued them, that is consent in my eyes and invalidates their argument on those grounds.
The whole issue of whether the tickets were touted is another debate, and are the only grounds they have for suspending the membership I think. But given they have this clause (which they say you broke), I don't really see their case, IF, as you say, you did gift them to your mates at work.
20. You may only re-sell or transfer the Members Card and/or receipts with the express consent of the Club, given at the Club’s absolute discretion. No such resale or transfer will be permitted except where the same takes place in consideration of no payment or benefit in excess of the face value of a ticket to that Match and such lending does not take place during the course of any business.
