Manchester United will be given 5,691 tickets for the FA Cup derby at the Etihad stadium next month, it has been confirmed.
The Reds had asked City for an allocation of more than 7,000 for the 8 January clash as competition rules state that visiting clubs are entitled to 15 per cent of the host stadium's capacity.
But Blues officials offered a figure around 5,700 - citing safety reasons - a move which prompted United bosses to complain to the FA.
As reported in today's M.E.N., a meeting of the Safety Advisory Group, made up of representatives of the town hall and police, recommended that the FA should come down on City's side.
And it is understood FA bosses have now given the Blues special dispensation, allowing to hand over less than the stipulated 15 per cent.
United officials say they have little option other than to abide by that decision.
A Reds source said: "We thought we had a fair case and we wrote to the FA to ask for what we were entitled to. There is little else we can do."
The M.E.N. also understands that extra security measures are being considered ahead of the clash on the back of City’s continued emergence and the 6-1 thumping of United at Old Trafford in October.
The numbers of rows of empty seats between opposing fans is likely to be increased in a bid to prevent flashpoints inside the ground.
Police will be wary after problems when the pair met in the Carling Cup semi final in 2010.when 18 arrests were made at a highly-charged Eastlands first leg.
Despite claims to the contrary by the Metropolitan Police, trouble reared its ugly head again in and around Wembley at May’s FA Cup semi-final.
A total of 34 arrests were made but a number of violent confrontations took place before and after the match with the force criticised for a lack of control and numbers.
No such problems were reported at August’s Charity Shield with police in the capital saying they hard learned from the previous encounter.
United are exempt from handing out 15 per cent allocations to away fans at Old Trafford for cup matches due to its bigger capacity.
They usually hand over 8,500 tickets to visitors, which is what City could expect in the event of a replay.
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If this is true then the etihad stadium cannot comply with f a rules for any game and shurely is not a fit stadium for any fa cup games to be played there
All it needs is some common sense, the way the ground is built there is no way that utd could get that amount of tickets and most people be safe. As it is, we all know there will be clowns on both side wanting trouble and finding it. Here’s to a great match, everyone getting home safe and a City win
Just read the comments by Mancini regarding tevez .
When man city buy a player we have to pay a lot of money, when we want to sell we have to loan them. Yes because you are a joke club that nobody wants to go to unless you pay way over the odds
Next aguaro says he wants to retire and go back to south America at 29 sounds familiar ? Next pantomime story he wants to go as well ho ho ho
Cue Lease and Team that wouldnt die moaning about everything and anything to do with City,why bother guys?Neither of you would be going to this game if Utd were given all 48 k tickets.
CTID
Ner Nern A Ner Ner!
typical....reduced allocations everywhere we play, this time the reason being fans might mingle in "the bowels of the etihad" sounds like a load of **** to me
Ohhhh The Poor Little Dears From Old Toilet aren't getting there own way anymore !!!!!......Well done Mr Bernstein,carry on with the job your doing !.
Very petty from Nited...they have a lot more to worry about than a couple of thousand extra seats...like how they are going to escape Eastlands with a respectable score ;-)
David Bernstein....has there ever been an FA Chairman with a bigger conflict of interests? Suarez banned for 8 games...3 vs City as well...who'd a thought it..
So let me get this right when the swamprats have the ball took of them (in this case tickets ) oh it,s so not fair but down at the trafford red sox ome massive capacity you cannot have thr required 15% away fans allocation its just not done they might turn up in shorts & enjoy themselfs,,,,,, singing etc well not in the swamp you cant wakes up those who travel a great distance &have to get up early ,,,,,, too be sure ,,,init same old same old
How do they get to eastlands anyhow,you only know the swamprats are there ,when you get on the ground.then they slip back down the sewers after.
Were Man United, we do what we want - Me thinks NOT.
Class! as several United keep reminding us!
Police will be wary after problems when the pair met in the Carling Cup semi final in 2010. Officers confiscated darts and golf balls from United’s travelling support.
Now we know why is has empty seats. It's just not safe to be full!
So United only give out 11%, but complain when other clubs do the same..........
United complained last year about the fixture schedule and the FA gave then 5 home games after each Champions League fixture, then gave City 5 away.
Whenever United drop points they complain about the officials.
United got the easiets draw in Champions League and carling Cup.
Even with preferential treatment though...its no longer enough!!!!
We didn't get 15% for the semi a few years back,we got about 7.5% of the allocation so the hypocritical,arrogant rags can go whistle for all i care.
We have offered them about 11%,which is 4% more than we got.
Typical United,practice what you preach and maybe you wont have the tag of the most hated plc in the world,by neutrals(i put plc as you are not a football club according to your Salford reds stolen badge). :)
Remember and don't ever forget special rules for Man U. What are the FA doing about Evry. carrol do you know?
"Police will be wary after problems when the pair met in the Carling Cup semi final in 2010. Officers confiscated darts and golf balls from United’s travelling support at a highly-charged first leg and 18 arrests were made."
Now doesn't that paragraph just say it all?
I suppose all the liittle laser blue army want to go this year eh? 20,000 empty seats at the majority of their cup games last year but you try finding one of them that hasn't been to every game for the last 20 years.
Doesn't matter how many tickets they give us,we all know that all the pubs and the city centre will be packed with reds again and there wont be a sign of any of this lot in their city again
In response to all the rags who constantly post on here to make fun of us, i would like to make some important points - 1. City are a MASSIVE club. 2. If we had wanted to win as many trophies as the rags, we would have done, but we didn't want to. 3. The only reason the rags won so many trophies is because they cheated. 4. A lot of their 330 million supporters come from outside Manchester. Anyone who doesn't agree with me is definitely rag scum.
They should give United 11% of the amount of true reds who were still in the ground at the 70 minute mark in the recent Derby massacre.I think that would entitle them to 33 tickets!!!
Think of it this way:
Now there'll be more bitters watching United knock them out of the FA Cup.
And City will be knocked out. United have a score to settle.
I'd give em' 2% after the unsuccessful appeal.
1-6
Same % as Manchester United dish out.
Don't think Trevor Phillips will be called in to judge on this 'inequality'.
Maybe the rags would have got more tickets if they had not thrown their toys out of the pram during the last league cup semi encounter at the COM. You see it's all about accepting defeat gracefully and in a sporting manner, something you rags are going to have to get used to for a long time to come. Maybe it would be better if you all stayed away on the day to avoid witnessing more disappointment. but then again that would deprive us Blues the fun of rubbing it in come the final whistle.