FA officially sanction Arsenal for rule breach

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The Football Association (FA) has officially sanctioned Arsenal FC for breaching the 2024-25 FA Cup Rule 192 during their third-round tie against Manchester United on 12 January 2025. The rule mandates that the home club must comply with ticket requests made by the away club under Rule 191, which grants the visiting team the right to claim up to 15% of tickets issued or 15% of the ground's capacity, provided certain conditions are met.

Arsenal failed to provide Manchester United with the required proportion of tickets for this FA Cup match. As a result, the FA's Professional Game Board (PGB) imposed a suspended fine of £500,000 on Arsenal. The fine will only be enforced if Arsenal cannot confirm compliance with ticket allocation rules for the 2025-26 FA Cup third round or subsequently fail to adhere to these rules for the remainder of the current season.

The sanction arises from Arsenal's concerns over safety in housing away fans in an upper tier of the Emirates Stadium, citing the risk of persistent standing. Despite the club's safety considerations, the PGB emphasized the importance of compliance with competition regulations, which require the home club to accommodate the away club’s ticket requests when submitted properly within four days of the draw.

In the match under scrutiny, Arsenal and Manchester United drew 1-1 in regular time, with United ultimately winning 5-3 on penalties. Nine months later, the FA’s ruling highlights the governing body’s scrutiny on procedural compliance beyond on-field outcomes.

This sanction serves as a reminder of strict adherence to ticket distribution rules in FA competitions, ensuring fair access for visiting supporters. Arsenal must confirm their ability to comply with these requirements in the upcoming FA Cup rounds to avoid activating the suspended fine.