Manchester United have been left frustrated after their request for 1,000 neutral seats at this weekend’s FA Cup tie against Arsenal was denied.
The Emirates Stadium Safety Advisory Group rejected their appeals, citing safety concerns about the upper-tier seating area.
Reduced Allocation Sparks Dispute
Under FA Cup rules, visiting teams are entitled to up to 15% of stadium capacity. However, United were allocated just under 8,000 seats, below the 9,000 they claim to be entitled to.
Despite offering to allocate the seats to families, children, or emergency services workers, Mail Sports understands that Arsenal and the advisory group stood firm on the decision, leaving the section likely to remain empty.
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United Seek Compensation for Unsold Seats
With no time left to reallocate tickets, Manchester United will pursue their share of the gate receipts for the unsold section as though the seats had been filled.
This is in line with FA Cup ticket revenue-sharing rules.
Arsenal defended their position, noting that United had still been given a 13% allocation, which adheres to competition regulations.
The decision followed the precedent set last season when Liverpool also received a reduced allocation due to similar safety concerns over persistent standing in the upper tier.
