Update: ‘Pep is on our side’ – Man City fans announce two new ticket protests despite club announcement News

Manchester City fans have announced two further protests at ticket policies despite the club announcing they will freeze prices for next season.

Manchester City fans plan to hold further protests at two upcoming home games as they bid to continue their push against the club’s ticketing policies.

A high-profile protest earlier this month saw thousands of City fans stay out of their seats for the first nine minutes of the win over Leicester, missing Jack Grealish’s opening goal. The fan groups organising the ‘no show’ protest were calling for the club to freeze season ticket prices, renew traditional season tickets and get rid of the £150 fee for Flexi-Gold tickets, and decided upon the nine-minute protest after Viagogo became the club’s ninth official ticket resale partner.

A smaller number of fans also protested outside the Etihad before the Leicester game, with the joint action appearing to work when the club later announced season ticket and matchday ticket price freezes for next season.

However, that announcement had no mention of other ticket policy decisions for next season, with the club continuing to work with Fan Advisory Board City Matters on specific prices and wider ticket offers.

So in a bid to keep pressure on the club, the three fan groups who organised the Leicester protest have announced further action before next week’s Premier League clash with Aston Villa, and the following week’s home fixture against Wolves.

The 1894 Group, MCFC Fans Foodbank Support and Trade Union Blues said in a new statement that: “A number of ticketing issues remain unresolved. We think updates on these could and should have been given clearly at the same time as the price freeze announcement.”

Their statement suggests a delay in such updates ‘may be an attempt to avert further fan protests’, adding that ‘collective action works’.

They have called for supporters to protest the lack of availability of full season cards before the Aston Villa game on April 22 at 7pm outside the Colin Bell Stand. And then they are asking supporters to repeat the Leicester protest in the Wolves fixture on May 2 by remaining in the concourse for the first six minutes of that game. Six minutes represents six years since the release of new season tickets.

They said: “A repeat of the Leicester action would highlight this important issue in a way the club cannot ignore. If you choose to take your seat, we again ask that supporters remain silent for the first six minutes to highlight that football without the fans is nothing.”

The call to action stresses that ‘positive news’ from City on season card availability would see either or both protests cancelled beforehand. And following the backing of Pep Guardiola for fans to voice their opinions both in the stands and in City Matters meetings, the fan groups wrote: “We note that Pep is on our side and we want him to know that we are on his and the players’ side especially during the run in.

“However the [next] City Matters meeting on May 1 represents the last realistic opportunity for the club to update elected fan representatives on unresolved ticketing issues.”

The statement finishes by noting that general admission tickets for the Villa game start at £71 for adults, reiterating demands to the club following a survey of 1894 member. Those demands include releasing new season tickets, re-issuing season tickets which are not renewed, reducing matchday prices, change the policy of releasing most matchday tickets at the start of the season, announce ticket plans for the North Stand expansion, and commit to ‘meaningful concession fares’ in all competitions.

The final demand asks that City ‘curtail the use of ticket agencies like Viagogo until the club can guarantee fans’ safety in the stadium.’

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