‘Man City to make U-turn after new ticket controversy’ – Stefan Borson
Manchester City fans remain frustrated about the ticketing situation at the Etihad Stadium despite the recent ticket-price freeze for next season.
The Premier League side have introduced new restrictions on season ticket holders, requiring them to attend 10 of the 19 home games next season in person.
Season ticket holders must also pass six tickets back to the club or forward them to eligible Man City members.
Empty seats were visible throughout the Etihad on 22 April as Pep Guardiola’s side beat Aston Villa 2-1 to take a big step towards Champions League qualification, with adult tickets for the match costing £71.
Former Man City financial adviser Stefan Borson exclusively told Football Insider he expects the club to make a U-turn on the 10-game requirement for season ticket holders.
Man City are spending £300million to expand the Etihad’s capacity to more than 60,000, with a new hotel and fan zone also part of the development.
Man City have set unrealistic ticket policy
Borson insisted the new Man City ticketing policy isn’t realistic in the modern world.
He told Football Insider: “You understand the frustration.
“I think there will be a reversal of the rule you’ve got to personally attend 10 because it just doesn’t fit with modern society, to be honest with you, especially when you’ve got a club that’s got lots of fans that come from outside of Manchester to go to the games.
“I personally know lots of people who live in London and go to those games. It’s not always possible to go to 10 in the way the modern world works because if you look, City had Aston Villa on Tuesday night.
“There is no train after that game back to London or back south, so you have to stay over if you’re going to watch that game. They are playing Bournemouth on a Sunday night. Again, you can’t get back.
“They are playing Wolves on a Friday night. Again, you can’t get back. This is just the last three home games, right? We know the way the games are moving around in the schedule the whole time.
“It’s just not the real world to expect people to have to go to 10 of those games and to commit to it. Now, they may want to, but it’s just not possible because the club can’t even tell them when the games are going to be when they buy the season ticket.
“You know almost certainly that maybe 14 of the games are going to move in terms of time and date, so I think they will have to U-turn on that.
“I can’t see how it can be workable.”
| Position | Team | Played | Points | GD |
| 3 | Newcastle United | 34 | 62 | 21 |
| 4 | Man City | 34 | 61 | 23 |
| 5 | Chelsea | 34 | 60 | 19 |
| 6 | Nottingham Forest | 33 | 60 | 14 |
| 7 | Aston Villa | 34 | 57 | 5 |
Man City lead Liverpool in race to sign Jeremy Monga
Football Insider revealed on 26 April Man City are leading Liverpool in the race to sign Jeremy Monga and are expected to finalise a deal.
The 15-year-old fits the profile of younger players the Manchester giants have been looking at, while he is well-suited to their system, philosophy and youth model.
Monga became the Premier League’s second-youngest-ever player when he appeared off the bench during Leicester City’s 3-0 defeat to Newcastle United earlier this month.
Liverpool’s interest was piqued after he made a five-minute cameo appearance at Anfield, but they now look set to miss out on his signature.
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