(Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
Arsenal have been sanctioned by the Professional Game Board (PGB) with a suspended £500,000 fine over a ticketing-related breach from their FA Cup match against Manchester United last season.
The FA issued a statement Friday saying Arsenal breached an FA Cup Rule 192, which states that 15 per cent of tickets issued must be available to be allocated the away club (up to a maximum of 9,000). The matter had been referred to the PGB by the FA.
The FA said the fine is suspended pending Arsenal’s compliance with the rule this season.
United were granted an allocation of 7,956 tickets for the third-round match on January 12 — which Ruben Amorim’s side won on penalties after a 1-1 draw — which is 13 per cent of the total capacity at the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal were unable to accommodate 9,000 away fans into the bottom tier of the Clock End, with the alternative option of housing the overspill into the upper tier ruled out by the Safety Group. Instead, a section of United fans continued around the bottom tier into one of the side stands of the Emirates, and there were around 1,000 empty seats as a result.
An allocation of around 3,000 tickets is usually reserved for away supporters in Premier League matches, occupying the bottom tier of the Clock End.
In 2017, Lincoln City sold out their allocation of nearly 9,000 tickets for their quarter-final match at the Emirates Stadium. In this case, the upper tier was utilised for supporters of the away club, who were then competing in the National League.
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Oct 10, 2025
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