Arsenal have been urged by their supporters’ trust to lodge an official complaint with UEFA following a dispute over ticket allocations for the Champions League semi-final second leg against Paris Saint-Germain. Arsenal were given only 2,000 tickets for the match in Paris next week, which is 500 fewer than the 5% allocation that UEFA mandates for away teams in European competitions. However, PSG was granted special dispensation to reduce this allocation to 4.1% at the start of the season, following a request from local police.
The Arsenal Supporters’ Trust (AST) has expressed dissatisfaction with the situation and plans to file a formal complaint to UEFA. The group points out that the 2,000 tickets offered to Arsenal fans are well below the 5% requirement, and believes that this is not a fair practice, especially considering that similar ticket allocation issues have affected other clubs. In particular, supporter groups from clubs like Liverpool and Aston Villa, who also faced similar challenges when playing PSG this season, are backing Arsenal’s complaint. AST board member Tim Payton emphasized that while the current issue may not be resolved in time for next week’s match, the growing frequency of English clubs facing PSG in European competitions in the coming years makes it essential for a change to be made to the ticket allocation policy.
The complaint comes in the wake of PSG’s own grievance regarding their ticket allocation for the first leg at the Emirates Stadium. PSG had requested an increase in their allocation, which had been set at 2,500 tickets for the first leg, below the UEFA standard, but their requests were repeatedly turned down. The French side had been allocated 3,000 tickets for a previous match at Arsenal during the group stage in October, but due to safety concerns, the number was reduced. It is understood that part of the reason for the reduction stemmed from issues with broken seats during PSG’s previous visit, though PSG officials reportedly believe the repairs were handled at their own expense and that the decision undermines the spirit of fair competition.
Arsenal’s refusal to comment on the matter has left some ambiguity surrounding the reasons behind their reduced allocation. However, reports suggest that the decision to reduce PSG’s allocation was influenced by guidance from the Metropolitan Police and safety advisory groups, as concerns over security and safety are often taken into account when determining the number of away tickets allocated.
The growing tension between the two clubs over ticket allocations highlights the challenges that arise when balancing safety concerns with the desire for fans to attend high-profile European matches. While UEFA’s rules are clear in their ticket allocation policy, it seems that local authorities and safety issues often lead to exceptions being made, leaving both clubs and fans frustrated.
As the conflict continues, the supporters’ trust is determined to ensure that the voices of fans are heard, especially as they anticipate more encounters with PSG in the future. The complaint they intend to file is seen as a step toward addressing what they believe is a systematic issue with ticket allocation practices for away supporters in Paris.
