Arsenal have been hit with a suspended fine of £500,000 for breaching FA Cup rules ahead of their third round match against Manchester United back in January. The disagreement revolved around the away ticket allocation for United. The Red Devils were given 8,000 seats at the Emirates, fewer than they should’ve received. According to FA regulations, visiting clubs must be allocated up to 15 per cent of the ground capacity, which is more than the percentage required for Premier League matches.
United lodged a complaint with the FA after not receiving the maximum 9,000 tickets, but Arsenal cited safety issues. The Safety Advisory Group maintained that the upper tier at the Emirates couldn’t be used for away fans due to concerns over persistent standing. Now, nine months after the match was played and United emerged victorious on penalties, the FA has delivered its verdict.
A statement read: “It was alleged that Arsenal FC had breached the 2024-25 FA Cup Rule 192, and the matter was referred to the PGB (Professional Game Board) for consideration.
“The PGB concluded that Arsenal FC had failed to comply with the 2024-25 FA Cup Rule 192 and imposed a suspended £500,000 fine.
“The fine is suspended pending Arsenal FC’s confirmation that it is able to comply with this requirement for the 2025-26 FA Cup third round and continued compliance for any further rounds of this season’s competition.”
The ruling means the lengthy dispute between the clubs has finally come to an end. United also triumphed on the pitch, winning on penalties after a 1-1 draw following 90 minutes and extra-time.
Ruben Amorim’s squad progressed to the fourth round, defeating Leicester 2-1 at home. However, the Red Devils’ journey was abruptly halted when Fulham won on penalties at Old Trafford in the fifth round.
Arsenal and United clashed again in March, resulting in a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford. They faced off once more in Manchester on the first day of the new season, with the Gunners emerging victorious with a 1-0 win.
Unless another FA Cup match is scheduled, their next encounter will be on the weekend of January 24. Arsenal currently lead the Premier League table, having amassed 16 points from their first seven matches.
United, on the other hand, are languishing in 10th place after a challenging start to the season. They have managed to secure victories in three of their last five matches, however, and are eagerly anticipating next Sunday’s trip to Anfield to face their arch-rivals Liverpool.
They can count on the support of Arsenal, as Mikel Arteta and his team aim to edge out Liverpool for the title after falling short last year. The Premier League is currently paused due to the ongoing international break.
