Imagine planning for one of the biggest nights of your football life—booking travel, rallying friends, dreaming of the roar in the stands—only to discover you’ve been left out in the cold.
That’s exactly how many disabled Manchester United and Tottenham supporters feel ahead of the Europa League final in Bilbao this Wednesday.
Tiny Allotments for Wheelchair Users and Mobility Fans
Out of each club’s 15,000‑ticket share at San Mamés Stadium, just 26 wheelchair spaces and 15 easy‑access seats were set aside.
For fans who rely on those seats, it’s an insult—and a practical nightmare.
With the stadium capacity reduced to 49,600 for the final, UEFA’s own guidelines would call for 236 wheelchair spots and 236 amenity seats, yet the reality falls tragically short.
Shocked Supporters Speak Out
Mark Spencer, from Spurs Ability (the official Spurs disabled‑fans group), was blunt: “To say I’m gutted is an understatement.
I missed Madrid in 2019 hoping this would be my chance, but UEFA have ignored their own rules.”
He went on to describe how it feels to be “prevented from watching football and supporting your team because of a disability.”
Manchester United Fans Demand Fair Play
Rick Clement, secretary of the Manchester United Disabled Supporters’ Association, echoed that frustration: “Here in 2025, a top‑level final still treats accessible fans as an afterthought.
It’s deeply disappointing and reinforces that disability isn’t taken seriously in football.”
Calls for a Proportionate Ticket Split
Rita Egan, co‑chair of SpursAbility, pointed out that the tiny number of seats is “wholly insufficient.”
She insisted the clubs deserved “a proportionate distribution of the spaces available at the stadium, in line with the general allocation.”
Charity Levels the Playing Field
Tony Taylor, chair of disabled‑sports charity Level Playing Field, accused UEFA of “lacking accountability” and effectively locking thousands of fans out.
He underlined the extra hurdles disabled fans face—higher travel costs, more complex logistics—only to be met with stingy seating when they finally arrive.
UEFA’s Defense and Past Examples
In response to the backlash, UEFA said it’s “committed to ensuring a barrier‑free experience” and factoring in “historical demand” when assigning seats.
They pointed to previous finals—like the 2024 Women’s Champions League in Bilbao and last year’s Europa League in Dublin—where they allocated seats that didn’t all sell out.
But for many disabled fans, that explanation rings hollow when their local matches provide far better access.
The Real Final Should Be Inclusion
For so many, the Europa League final is a moment to celebrate sport’s unifying power.
Yet, with tiny allocations, sanctioning bodies risk sending the message that disabled fans don’t belong in those stands.
Winning on the pitch means little if large sections of your supporter base can’t even find a seat.