United and City in fresh battle over Cup tickets as bitter rivalry intensifies

By Ian Ladyman
Last updated at 10:30 PM on 19th December 2011

Manchester United have complained to the Football Association about the number of tickets allocated to them by neighbours City for their forthcoming FA Cup tie at the Etihad Stadium.
The Manchester clubs will face each other in the third round on January 8 but the build-up to the match is threatening to be overshadowed by acrimony as it emerged United have complained to the governing body about the hosts’ proposed visiting allocation of 5,400.
Under FA rules, thehome club should offer their visitors 15 per cent of capacity. This would mean United would expect to receive 7,100 tickets, and this is the number they have requested.
Winning feeling: Manchester City won the FA Cup last season
Winning feeling: Manchester City won the FA Cup last season
However, last year’s beaten semi-finalists have been given 1,700 fewer than that and have written to the FA to ask them to remind City of their obligations.
It is understood the situation is complicated by the fact that United usually only offer City 8,500 tickets for cup games at Old Trafford.
This represents 3,000 less than 15 per cent but United are usually given dispensation to do this by the FA given that their stadium — which holds 78,000 — is so big.
At United there is a feeling that City are engaging in a tit-for-tat move aimed at getting their own back.
However, City sources have denied this, stressing that the design of their stadium makes it difficult for them to offer more than 6,100 to away fans for any game.
Party time: City beat United at least season's semi-final stage
Party time: City beat United at least season's semi-final stage
They will tell the FA that they have looked into ways of giving United more tickets but that segregation and security concerns have made it impossible.
The two clubs were drawn together on December 4 and have had since then to reach a compromise. They have failed to do this and United are frustrated that their deadline for ticket applications passed last Friday with the matter still unresolved.
With City two points ahead of United at the top of the Barclays Premier League, the two clubs’ rivalry promises to intensify further as the season progresses.
City midfielder David Silva is looking forward to the Cup tie, hoping for a repeat of last year’s semi-final win at Wembley.
Silva said: ‘The match with Manchester United is quite a way off yet but let’s hope that when it comes we are fit, ready and in good form.
‘It will be an important game, a fantastic game. It’s a shame it is so early in the competition because it means one of us will be out.’

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