Away fans / tourists in home sections

[SkyBlueAmerican]

I briefly talked about this in a different post, but I don't get what makes football different to other forms of tourism.

If you go ANYWHERE in the world, it's expected that you learn a few things about the culture surrounding your destination and what activities you're doing.

No one likes a tourist that is completely unaware of their surroundings in any context, forget football.

I'm not saying suddenly become an expert on the culture and history of wherever you're going, but how difficult is it to know a few very basic things about the football culture in England if you're going to a high-profile match?

• You don't cheer for the away team or wear away colors anywhere outside the away end
• You don't randomly wear colors of a team that isn't even playing
• English football clubs have incredibly passionate support and fans care a great deal about matchday atmosphere, which is part of why the product is as big as it is - don't annoy locals that are there to see a club they care deeply about by snapping a million selfies, sitting in a seat that isn't yours, or gushing over an opposition player

This isn't difficult stuff. It's 2025 and this can all be found out very quickly and easily with a quick Google search.

The fact they ARE tourists isn't, by itself, the problem. The issue is that you have people actively making everyone's matchday significantly worse and killing what makes the game so spectacular in the first place because they're behaving in ways that can be very easily avoided.

Take a few photos if you want, but watch the match, and if you're there as a neutral don't act like an idiot.

Away supporters shouldn't be sitting in home sections, period.

All of this to me is basic tourist etiquette. I wouldn't carve stuff into the rocks at Stonehenge.

 

[crystal_mais]

If I was a steward I wouldn't intervene. I wouldn't get paid enough by the club to break up a fight, or to sort a dispute out amongst rival fans. Stewards aren't there to remove away fans from home ends because the club directly or indirectly sells home tickets to them. The blame rests solely with the people running the club. They know what they are doing. And they know the risks they are taking in the quest to drive match day revenue.

Khaldoon should do something about it. If he's such a big states man, and up in Government in Abu Dhabi, why the fuck isn't he's telling Soriano to stop this? Because he's complicit in it as well. He knows what's going on. And he's ignoring it.

I'm not sure Khaldoon will be close to all that to be fair. He has other execs in place to deal with all that stuff. Also it only takes 1 person to end up with a serious injury from being battered for the police etc to get involved and criminal case being set up.

 

[franksinatra]

Back of CBL3 was terrible for it last season. I wouldn't say full rows, but definitely groups of people. They could be full rows, but split up into different groups? Some of those games included the 5 game policy (which only seems to be enforced to City members for the chance of purchasing a ticket.... invariably to be sat by yourself). Groups speaking numerous languages and clearly won't have all met the specified criteria. They were only there for the one fixture. I've moved now and I can't imagine it has got any better.

Are there City fans/touts selling tickets on? Of course there is. I can't understand how people can be naive to the club selling either directly/indirectly in bigger batches though. That's far more of a safety concern than a blue selling on to somebody else for an isolated seat. Far less likely to be impartial or conceal being an away fan when in a group.

Ironic that they're targeting face value pages when those by the trams seem to be given free rein right in front of their noses.

And if fans are selling tickets on through football ticket websites what difference is that to what the club is doing?

I would hazard nothing at all, as I doubt the club put in any additional security checks. There only real issue is there not making the mark up.

It’s unrealistic to think amongst 50k persons no one is shifting tickets on but that is completely different to the overarching organisation, responsible for ticket distribution, undertaking those practices. As always with our club it’s all about the bottom line.

 

[Nevizade]

Just thinking about this picture at least City would have got another 10quid out of him to use the bag lockers

View attachment 147887

Posted something similar the other day but this is a genuine safety concern now. He was lucky not to get a belt, had this been against united or even if it had been after the game after getting beat and tensions spilling over he may well have got one.

 

[jrb]

Khaldoon only knows what he's told by the people who report to him I doubt very much they are telling him how they are selling tickets he will just see the bottom line, the attendance figure and that is probably a percentage

I'm not sure Khaldoon will be close to all that to be fair. He has other execs in place to deal with all that stuff.

It's unthinkable he doesn't know how what's going on at the club. He's a person who wants to know everything of importance that is going on at the club. Let alone watching matches at the Etihad. He will have seen the letter written to him from the 7 supporters group. And he has probably seen and read the reports about City fans being unhappy about tickets prices, the issues on the terraces, etc.

The proof of that is below.

But Al Mubarak also stressed the need to raise prices to continue boosting revenues that can be reinvested into the team, which continues to achieve unprecedented on-field success.

"This is a very delicate issue for sure. I appreciate the feelings of our fans when it comes to a very important aspect, which is the price of a ticket," said Al Mubarak.

"I want to try to explain this very difficult balance that there is always tension between investing, growing, meeting more demand, being sustainable and financially viable, and at the same time, taking care of our core fan base and making sure they have affordable tickets and they continue to enjoy their football in the way they always have.

"We're talking very closely to our fan base to make sure that we're able to strike that balance in an appropriate way. It's a balance. I recognise some of our fans obviously are not satisfied on the pricing side of it. We have to find solutions for them. That is our job.

'I want to explain' - Man City chairman opens up on Etihad ticket price row

Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has discussed the rise in ticket prices at the Etihad and the debate that has caused with fan groups.

www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk

 

[St Helens Blue (Exiled)]

Are you sure that's true? I didn't think if a ticket went to F&F they could simply send it to anyone else's Wallet? Thought the recipient from your family memebr who transferred it would also need membership etc?

100 percent mate. All you need is an email.
My eldest couldnt go on Sunday so he transferred his ticket to me. I got the email stating its ready to download. I just forwarded it onto his mum who is a lifelong blue and she downloaded it into her apple wallet.
For me that is potentially what will have happened on Sunday. I could easily have forwarded the email to a liverpool fan ( not that I ever would) and then you have an away fan in a season ticket holders seat.
It is a huge problem. It isn't just City. Rangers had a block behind the goal at the swamp etc.
I really have no idea how to solve the issue. The one thing I hate is champions league nights. Being sat with people who I dont know or never go because its fashionable to go to those games. Was at Villa this season,Arsenal,Liverpool away amongst others. Fucking full of tourists ruining the atmosphere, not singing. Just fuck off and sell away tickets to people who deserve them.

 

[jrb]

City need to stop paying agent fees. City paid out £60mill in agents fees in 2023/24. How many season ticket and match day ticket price rises does that equate to? The other PL clubs need to stop paying agent fees as well. The total paid out in 2023/24 was almost £410,000,000. Players earn £100,000's per week. Why aren't they paying their agents?

Instead of fighting each other, the PL clubs need to start cutting costs at agent and player level. If the players don 't like it, go and play in Saudi, Spain, Italy and Germany. 1. There aren't enough clubs to accommodate the players. 2. They won't be paid as much as they would be paid in the PL as a rule.

Instead, fans are told by the clubs ticket price rises are needed because running costs are increasing every season. What about agents costs increasing, etc?

 

[crystal_mais]

It's unthinkable he doesn't know how what's going on at the club. He's a person who wants to know everything of importance that is going on at the club. Let alone watching matches at the Etihad. He will have seen the letter written to him from the 7 supporters group. And he has probably seen and read the reports about City fans being unhappy about tickets prices, the issues on the terraces, etc.

The proof of that is below.

But Al Mubarak also stressed the need to raise prices to continue boosting revenues that can be reinvested into the team, which continues to achieve unprecedented on-field success.

"This is a very delicate issue for sure. I appreciate the feelings of our fans when it comes to a very important aspect, which is the price of a ticket," said Al Mubarak.

"I want to try to explain this very difficult balance that there is always tension between investing, growing, meeting more demand, being sustainable and financially viable, and at the same time, taking care of our core fan base and making sure they have affordable tickets and they continue to enjoy their football in the way they always have.

"We're talking very closely to our fan base to make sure that we're able to strike that balance in an appropriate way. It's a balance. I recognise some of our fans obviously are not satisfied on the pricing side of it. We have to find solutions for them. That is our job.

'I want to explain' - Man City chairman opens up on Etihad ticket price row

Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has discussed the rise in ticket prices at the Etihad and the debate that has caused with fan groups.

www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk

I get that but this is about away fans / tourist in the City end. I'm not sure he will be close to the detail on that and implications. At that level he sits at he has Ops directors etc to deal with it. He will just get updates on issues etc. I hope he has read the letters.

 

[117 M34]

City need to stop paying agent fees. City paid out £60mill in agents fees in 2023/24. How many season ticket and match day ticket price rises does that equate to? The other PL clubs need to stop paying agent fees as well. The total paid out in 2023/24 was almost £410,000,000. Players earn £100,000's per week. Why aren't they paying their agents?

Instead of fighting each other, the PL clubs need to start cutting costs at agent and player level. If the players don 't like it, go and play in Saudi, Spain, Italy and Germany. 1. There aren't enough clubs to accommodate the players. 2. They won't be paid as much as they would be paid in the PL as a rule.

Instead, fans are told by the clubs ticket price rises are needed because running costs are increasing every season. What about agents costs increasing, etc?

Agents work for the clubs as a broker for a transfer deal

 

[crystal_mais]

City need to stop paying agent fees. City paid out £60mill in agents fees in 2023/24. How many season ticket and match day ticket price rises does that equate to? The other PL clubs need to stop paying agent fees as well. The total paid out in 2023/24 was almost £410,000,000. Players earn £100,000's per week. Why aren't they paying their agents?

Instead of fighting each other, the PL clubs need to start cutting costs at agent and player level. If the players don 't like it, go and play in Saudi, Spain, Italy and Germany. 1. There aren't enough clubs to accommodate the players. 2. They won't be paid as much as they would be paid in the PL as a rule.

Instead, fans are told by the clubs ticket price rises are needed because running costs are increasing every season. What about agents costs increasing, etc?

This is where football is a different ball game. The players are in it to play the game but also make as much money as they possibly can. My sons mate has signed a pro contract and he had agents crawling around the family from the age of 14 - they took their time and signed up with one who has managed to haggle multiple sponsorship deals and a long term Prem League contract that will make him a millionaire by the time he is 20. Trust me its not just the agents, players, families etc all in the pot looing out for their bit. The costs then passed down to the consumers (that's us). As long as there is demand and people to pay - the leechers will continue to fleece us.

The agents are there to look after the clubs and the players. They double dip money wise

 

[East Level 2]

One point that hasn't been mentioned: City have a "group bookings" section in the ticket office to deal with large groups who want to attend and sit together.
Has anybody had any dealings with this area of our ticket office? Specifically do they advise the buyers that they will be in with City fans and therefore cannot support our opponents. Also, do City insist tickets are passed on at face value or do they allow a mark-up? I'm not talking about the approved touting partners, just groups trying to attend a single game.

 

[St Helens Blue (Exiled)]

Final point.
Remember when City played at Bolton away. Mark Kennedy scored a fucking worldie. I was sat in with all the bolton nutters. Just kept quiet and said nowt. Its hard yes but you dont jump up in 115 when Liverpool score as a Liverpool fan.

 

[jrb]

I've clapped a home goal against us in the home end through gritted teeth not to be sussed out. I didn't enjoy doing that. When City scored I stayed quiet, with no expression on my face, but I was celebrating like fuck in my mind.

Away at Portsmouth. Sat in the main stand with my ex on the front row of seats in the main stand. Portsmouth scored an equaliser in the last minute. Everyone went mad around us. We both sat there emotionless. We stood out a mile as City fans. But we were left alone as we didn't take the piss or disrespect the Portsmouth fans in their home end.

 

[ell]

No one is selling whole blocks of tickets to away fans. Stop talking shite.

Yes you're right, all the evidence on a match day points otherwise, but you keep on defending people who do not give a shite about your support.

 

[Marvin.]

One point that hasn't been mentioned: City have a "group bookings" section in the ticket office to deal with large groups who want to attend and sit together.
Has anybody had any dealings with this area of our ticket office? Specifically do they advise the buyers that they will be in with City fans and therefore cannot support our opponents. Also, do City insist tickets are passed on at face value or do they allow a mark-up? I'm not talking about the approved touting partners, just groups trying to attend a single game.

I have been sat behind large groups of school kids in 305. They aren't free-tickets. They are discounted because I have overheard conversations between the organisers and fans around me. Sometimes I see groups in the North Stand wearing coloured tracksuit tops which I assume are football teams?

I think the major problem underlying away fans in City's end is down to regulars not going to the CL games. The novelty has worn off, and it's very expensive. City need to stop ramping up prices for seasoncard holders every year, and they need to allow for more seasoncard holders. And cheaper match-day tickets.

The whole economy of football with the ridiculous wages, and PSR, FFP etc is bonkers. You can understand why clubs like Man Utd raise ticket prices. It's not good but the economic pressures / incentives are there. It's the world we live in. Perhaps I have misinterpreted people's comments but it seems that we are starting to create a division between the 30,000 City hard-core and new fans, when really we should be talking about ticket prices. I've always loved football but the cost is extraordinary. It can't go on like this.

You can possibly argue that clubs can be run profitably without raising prices, but it's the easiest thing for a club facing possible PSR sanctions to up prices. We are not in that boat. But we need to be careful about the future.

 

[bennyboy]

I was in the Southampton end when Jesus scored that goal.
Stayed quiet.
Hard but the right thing to do.
Bolton and Burnley ends as well.
3/2 win at Bolton and a 1/0 win at Burnley.Segio goal.

 

[SkyBlueAmerican]

Perhaps I have misinterpreted people's comments but it seems that we are starting to create a division between the 30,000 City hard-core and new fans, when really we should be talking about ticket prices. I've always loved football but the cost is extraordinary. It can't go on like this.

I obviously don't want to speak for anyone else but the understanding I've gotten from this thread isn't that people are upset over new City fans, it's about people who show up who aren't City fans, or might do a little bit of half-hearted cheering or wear a City scarf but really aren't fussed over the result.

I do agree with the rest of your post regarding ticket prices.

 

[shnaghaicityfish]

No one is selling whole blocks of tickets to away fans. Stop talking shite.

Maybe not to fully fledged away fans but definitely to tour groups, see my earlier post and the reports of others. You may consider it’s a justified business strategy but it is obviously relevant in relation to ticket pricing and availability of tickets for big games.
I do agree with you that there are many SC holders selling on their tickets for big games. Lots of regulars near me missing on Sunday.

 

[bobbyowenquiff]

I briefly talked about this in a different post, but I don't get what makes football different to other forms of tourism.

If you go ANYWHERE in the world, it's expected that you learn a few things about the culture surrounding your destination and what activities you're doing.

No one likes a tourist that is completely unaware of their surroundings in any context, forget football.

I'm not saying suddenly become an expert on the culture and history of wherever you're going, but how difficult is it to know a few very basic things about the football culture in England if you're going to a high-profile match?

• You don't cheer for the away team or wear away colors anywhere outside the away end
• You don't randomly wear colors of a team that isn't even playing
• English football clubs have incredibly passionate support and fans care a great deal about matchday atmosphere, which is part of why the product is as big as it is - don't annoy locals that are there to see a club they care deeply about by snapping a million selfies, sitting in a seat that isn't yours, or gushing over an opposition player

This isn't difficult stuff. It's 2025 and this can all be found out very quickly and easily with a quick Google search.

The fact they ARE tourists isn't, by itself, the problem. The issue is that you have people actively making everyone's matchday significantly worse and killing what makes the game so spectacular in the first place because they're behaving in ways that can be very easily avoided.

Take a few photos if you want, but watch the match, and if you're there as a neutral don't act like an idiot.

Away supporters shouldn't be sitting in home sections, period.

All of this to me is basic tourist etiquette. I wouldn't carve stuff into the rocks at Stonehenge.

If you started cheering for the opposition in the home end in Italy you wouldn't last long. Imagine wearing a Roma shirt in the Napoli end. It would be the same in South America. Some of these people are just total morons. I have watched City from home fan sections hundreds of times over the past 45 years and never had any problems because I didn't behave like a dickhead. I have no problems with genuine tourists who don't take the piss.

 

[bobbyowenquiff]

I've clapped a home goal against us in the home end through gritted teeth not to be sussed out. I didn't enjoy doing that. When City scored I stayed quiet, with no expression on my face, but I was celebrating like fuck in my mind.

Away at Portsmouth. Sat in the main stand with my ex on the front row of seats in the main stand. Portsmouth scored an equaliser in the last minute. Everyone went mad around us. We both sat there emotionless. We stood out a mile as City fans. But we were left alone as we didn't take the piss or disrespect the Portsmouth fans in their home end.

I clapped that "worldy" goal against us at Orient a few weeks ago. There were plenty of City fans in that home section. I spotted a few at half time. Just a quiet nod of recognition was required.