MPs clash over Manchester United Cup Final tickets
LABOUR MPs have clashed angrily over claims that Manchester United fans are getting too many tickets for the FA Cup Final next month.
London MP Joan Ruddock has signed a Commons motion regretting that the FA has not given equal treatment to Millwall and the Reds for the game at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff.
She says they have allotted United many more than the south London side.
Millwall's chairman, Theo Paphitis, says his club has been given 7,000 fewer tickets for the 72,500-capacity stadium.
Ruddock adds: "This is not in the spirit of the competition, which is renowned for putting lower league clubs against the teams from the Premier League on an equal basis."
She calls on the FA to reconsider its decision and is supported by other MPs from London - and the Ribble Valley Tory MP Nigel Evans.
But today the claim produced an angry response from United fans, including MPs Tony Lloyd (Manchester Central), Terry Lewis (Worsley), and Graham Stringer (Manchester Blackley).
In a Commons motion they back the FA's decision to distribute the tickets for the May 22 Cup Final in proportion to the number of fans of each club.
And they say that even now, tens of thousands of Reds' supporters will not be able to go. Stringer, a former Stretford End regular and long-time United supporter, says they have 20 times more supporters than Millwall. "Joan Ruddock is an excellent MP but she seems to have very little knowledge of the realities of football," he said.
Angry response
"If Millwall were to get the same number of tickets as Manchester United it would mean not only enough tickets for people who turned up at the New Den (Millwall's ground), but for every member of their extended families and their second cousins.
"Manchester United cannot fit all its supporters into Old Trafford, which accommodates 68,000 people. This means that many United supporters would be disappointed even if every seat at the stadium was given to United."
The FA says the discrepancy arose due to fears about safety.
A statement added: "The FA made the decision on allocations after taking into consideration a directive from South Wales police that there should be no neutral areas in the stadium - now or in the future."
Ruddock, MP for Lewisham and Deptford, and other South London MPs have congratulated Millwall on reaching the FA Cup Final for the first time in their 119-year history, after a "huge effort" to combat hooliganism and racism.
Manchester United tickets articles
MPs clash over Manchester United Cup Final tickets
LABOUR MPs have clashed angrily over claims that Manchester United fans are getting too many tickets for the FA Cup Final next month.
Just champion
MANCHESTER United are already champions, but some of their oldest supporters were having a second celebration.
Fans sue Manchester United in tickets row
MANCHESTER United fans whose Carling Cup final tickets failed to arrive are to sue the club.
The £1,000 cup final tickets
FURIOUS Manchester United fans have condemned football chiefs after a M.E.N. investigation revealed tickets for the FA Cup Final clash against Arsenal are being sold on the black market for nearly £1,000.
Boom time for Blues and Reds
IT's boom time for Manchester football.
The great FA Cup rip-off
TOUTS are asking up to £800 for tickets to watch Manchester United take on Millwall in the FA Cup final.
Keane testimonial set to sell out
ROY Keane's testimonial on May 9 at Old Trafford seems certain to be a sell-out after Manchester United confirmed they have already sold 10,000 tickets for the clash against Celtic.
Keane testimonial set to break record
ROY Keane's testimonial is likely to attract the biggest gathering of away fans ever seen at a British game.
Ticket sales boost Reds
MANCHESTER United have defied their critics by record massive season-ticket sales for the coming campaign.
Reds launch one-year season ticket
MANCHESTER United have launched a new 'one-year' season ticket in an effort to satisfy long-term demand at the expanded 76,000-capacity Old Trafford.
Seville game to mark OT extension
MANCHESTER United will mark the completion of an 8,000 seat extension at Old Trafford, taking the capacity to 76,000, with a friendly against UEFA Cup holders Seville on Saturday, August 12.
