Disabled Manchester United and Tottenham Fans Criticize UEFA for Insufficient Accessible Ticket Allocations at San Mamés Stadium in Bilbao

As the excitement builds ahead of the Europa League final between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur in Bilbao, a cloud of disappointment is hanging over disabled fans of both clubs.

Despite the huge occasion, many supporters with disabilities are speaking out against what they call an “insulting” and unfairly small number of wheelchair and accessible tickets allocated for the match.

Tiny Ticket Allocations Spark Outcry Among Disabled Fans

The final, set for Wednesday at Athletic Bilbao’s San Mamés Stadium, has each club receiving 15,000 tickets.

But from those, only 26 wheelchair spaces and 15 “easy access” seats — designed for fans with mobility issues — have been made available to Manchester United and Spurs supporters respectively.

For many disabled fans, this number feels shockingly low and far from what should be expected at such a major event.

UEFA Guidelines and Stadium Capacity Raise More Questions

To put this in perspective, UEFA recommends that a stadium like San Mamés, which usually holds 53,000 but will be capped at just under 50,000 for the final, should provide 236 wheelchair spaces and an equal number of easy access seats.

Yet, even in normal times, the stadium only offers 208 wheelchair and 102 easy access seats, meaning it falls short of these standards.

Disabled fan groups and charities argue that the allocations should have been much higher.

According to Level Playing Field, a charity advocating for disabled sports fans, each club should have received around 58 wheelchair spaces and 28 easy access seats for the final.

Supporters Speak Out on Feeling Excluded and Overlooked

Mark Spencer from Spurs Ability expressed his frustration bluntly, calling the allocation “insulting.”

He shared his disappointment about missing the chance to attend this final, especially after being unable to go to the 2019 Champions League final in Madrid.

“You feel like you’re being prevented from supporting your team because of your disability,” Mark said, highlighting how hurtful and unfair the situation feels.

Similarly, Rick Clement from the Manchester United Disabled Supporters’ Association called the lack of fair allocation “extremely disappointing,” pointing out that disability often seems to be treated as an afterthought even in 2025.

Calls for Fairer Distribution and Greater Accountability

Rita Egan, co-chair of SpursAbility, also voiced how “wholly insufficient” the ticket numbers are for disabled fans from both clubs. She emphasized the need for at least a proportional share based on the overall ticket distribution.

Tony Taylor, chair of Level Playing Field, didn’t hold back in criticizing UEFA for “lacking accountability” and effectively locking disabled fans out of an event that should be a celebration for all supporters.

“It’s another failure from UEFA at a major event,” he said, stressing how the governing body is ignoring its own guidelines and underusing the stadium’s facilities.

He also highlighted the extra challenges many disabled fans face with European travel, making the lack of ticket provisions even more unfair.

Wider Issues Across European Finals and UEFA’s Response

Level Playing Field also mentioned ongoing concerns about accessible seating in other European finals, such as the Conference League final between Chelsea and Real Betis.

In response to the backlash, UEFA stated that they are “committed to ensuring a barrier-free experience” for disabled fans and are working to improve standards and the overall experience.

They pointed out that sightlines and historical demand affect ticket availability, but insisted they are trying to balance these factors.

UEFA also shared some data, noting that in recent women’s and men’s finals, the number of allocated accessible seats sold varied, implying they are trying to respond to actual demand.

What Lies Ahead for Disabled Fans and Football’s Inclusivity?

While the Europa League final promises to be an exciting night for football fans, the controversy over ticket allocations for disabled supporters casts a shadow over the event.

Fans and advocacy groups are pushing for greater awareness and action so that no one is left feeling sidelined in future fixtures.

For many disabled supporters of Manchester United and Tottenham, the hope is that football’s governing bodies will listen and ensure fair access to stadiums—not just in theory, but in practice.