The Evening Standard's journalism is supported by our readers. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Arsenal supporters voiced their frustration today after it emerged the club are likely to receive a minimum allocation of around 32,000 tickets for their FA Cup semi-final at Wembley.
The Gunners will face either Bradford or Reading on April 18 or 19 as they look to defend the trophy they won last May.
Standard Sport understands administrative staff from all three clubs are set to meet the FA tomorrow to determine the exact breakdown of Wembley’s 90,000 capacity for the match. But it is expected that Arsenal will be given considerably fewer tickets than they had for last year’s semi-final.
The club received 42,882 tickets for last season’s clash against holders Wigan, who accepted a smaller allocation of 22,807 after consultations with the FA concluded on a figure reflecting their attendances for the previous year’s semi-final and final, as well as the 2013 Community Shield.
It is understood Arsenal’s allocation could increase, dependent upon which team wins next week’s replay and how ticket sales progress for Bradford or Reading in the run-up to next month’s game.
Player Ratings: Manchester United v Arsenal
The Arsenal Supporters’ Trust has led an initiative with the Football Supporters’ Federation demanding greater allocations for supporters for the final — with 25,000 tickets going to each team while 17,000 go to Club Wembley and a further 23,000 to the “football family” — and they admitted their frustration at the prospective ticketing for this year’s semi-final.
“The FA really need to up their game and make sure more tickets for these big games at Wembley are allocated to the fans of the teams competing,” an AST spokesman told Standard Sport.
“It is disappointing to hear that only 32,000 tickets have been allocated for Arsenal fans at the semi-final. The FA must explain why Arsenal’s allocation can’t be nearer to 44,000, half of Wembley’s capacity.”
Meanwhile, the Premier League have confirmed Arsenal will travel to Singapore in pre-season to take part in the Barclays Asia Trophy.
The Gunners will make their debut in the competition — first held on a biennial basis in 2003 — which takes the form of a four-team knockout over two matchdays on July 15 and 18.
Read More
Also involved are Stoke, Everton and a Singapore XI made up primarily of players from their national team to mark the country’s 50th year of independence from Malaysia.
