Manchester United’s Request to Allocate 1,000 Seats for Neutral Fans Denied Ahead of FA Cup Clash with Arsenal at Emirates Stadium

Ahead of this weekend’s FA Cup match between Manchester United and Arsenal, the FA has turned down United’s request to offer 1,000 seats to neutral fans.

The Red Devils had hoped to accommodate additional supporters after their allocation for the game was reduced.

Frustration Over Reduced Ticket Allocation

United’s frustration grew after they were given fewer tickets than expected for the high-stakes encounter.

According to competition rules, the club is entitled to 9,000 tickets, but they were only offered just under 8,000.

This reduction, officials say, was due to safety concerns related to the seating arrangements at the Emirates Stadium, specifically in an upper tier.

Attempts to Hand Over Tickets to Charity and Emergency Workers

In an effort to make the most of the reduced allocation, Manchester United proposed an alternative solution.

They offered to distribute the 1,000 seats to families, children, and individuals connected to the club’s charity programs.

However, this request didn’t gain traction. As a last-ditch effort, they suggested that emergency services workers or people involved in FA grassroots initiatives receive the tickets.

Unfortunately, their appeal fell short as they were informed there wasn’t enough time to make the necessary arrangements.

Potential Empty Seats and Revenue Dispute

With the decision now made, it looks likely that the section of the stadium in question will remain empty.

Despite this, Manchester United is expected to claim their share of the matchday revenue from this section as if the seats had been sold, in line with the usual ticket revenue split between clubs in the FA Cup.

Arsenal’s Position and Safety Concerns

Arsenal, on the other hand, maintains that United’s 13% allocation complies with the competition’s rules, which specify that clubs should receive “up to 15%” of tickets.

This reduction was the result of the Safety Advisory Group’s decision, which consists of officials from the club, local council, and emergency services.

This isn’t the first time such a situation has occurred—last season, Liverpool also faced a reduced allocation due to safety concerns surrounding standing in the upper tier.

This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!

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