Etihad’s Ticket Tango: Fans Feel the Heat …
Manchester City has launched a crackdown on ticket touts that looks more like the latest Olympic sport than a football club policy. A total of 165 fans have been shown the red card from the Etihad Stadium this season. The culprit? Dodgy ticket resales that saw Real Madrid supporters enjoying home comforts a bit too much during the Champions League face-off. Etihad witnessed a Spanish invasion with fans tangoing in Real jerseys right smack in the City sections. Feyenoord, Manchester United, Liverpool and the marked Plymouth have also tangoed on this dubious dancefloor.
This ticket scandal has even caused some local fans to consider abandoning the European Cup Scheme next season. Last month, the Manchester Evening News probed City for their secret sauce on re-sale processes, only to be met with a tight-lipped refusal. However, City has finally put its cards on the table, revealing 354 suspended accounts while 223 more sit on the radar, awaiting their fate.
The Real Madrid showdown was a real fiesta, thanks to their mere 40% ticket take-up. Alas, it seems their wanted circulation policy backfired, leaving non-members sneaking into home zones to bring some Madrid cheer. Meanwhile, City told their fan group, City Matters, that they’re ready to scold any naughty third-party resellers still pretending to be legit. In the end, both City fans and those onstage in the ticket drama hope for a calmer run next time around – unless they’re secretly hoping for more suspense in their ticket tales!
