MUST issues legal challenge over Chelsea (a) allocation cut

In the last 24 hours, MUST has taken the unprecedented step of commencing legal proceedings in respect of the ticket allocation decisions for the Chelsea away game on Saturday 22 October. WEBSITE POST HERE
 
This is not something we or – to the best of our knowledge – any other Supporters Trust has ever done before. But so outrageous have been the circumstances around our reduced allocation for that game, and so disruptive to so many fans, that we felt it was time to say that “enough is enough” and time to take a stand.
 
As you might know, the Chelsea fixture was first rescheduled for Sunday 23 October at 4.30pm. That said, there was always some uncertainty about that date/time given Chelsea’s Champions League fixture on the following Tuesday. By the time of the ticket ballot it was known the game would not be at that time/date, but a new time/date was not confirmed. The normal ballot was held, and the normal allocation of 3000 tickets was distributed to supporters in the usual way.

Subsequently, a new date/time of 5.30pm on the Saturday was confirmed for the match. Based on this, Hammersmith & Fulham Council and the Metropolitan Police determined that we could no longer have our full allocation and initially argued only 1500 away fans would be allowed. Manchester United and Chelsea both pushed back and ultimately got the allocation back up to 2370. According to their absurd ruling, a kick-off time prior to 4.45pm would be allowed a full away support, but anything later would not. Based on this, the Club went through a process and some 600 United fans have had to return their tickets – tickets they had already bought and paid for – for the game.
 
As football fans, we are well used to being treated like second class citizens. But we shouldn’t be. And the time has come to say enough is enough. We are ordinary people who enjoy going to watch a sporting event. Rugby fans aren’t treated like this. Nor are cricket fans. Why are we alone treated like we are a public order problem rather than free citizens enjoying their lives? And as to the risk of disorder – one of the last ‘normal’ away games (pre-Covid) at Chelsea was in 2019. It was an FA Cup game with a 6000 allocation. Double that proposed for this time. The kick-off time? 7.45pm. More than two hours later than that proposed here. The number of arrests? ONE. Yes, you read that right. ONE. There is no track record in recent years of major disorder at Chelsea v United games.
 
Hammersmith & Fulham Council now has until noon on Friday to respond to our initial legal challenge. Where it goes next depends on what they say. Judicial Review is costly and we would certainly need to crowd-source funding from you, our Members and wider. We will need to make a decision this weekend on whether we proceed with it. But we thought it was important to make this point, and to say on behalf of football fans everywhere that no longer are we willing to be treated like second class citizens.

What is particularly heartening is to see the huge wave of support from fellow supporters groups at rival clubs across the league not least the strong support we’ve received from Chelsea Supporters Trust from the beginning of this saga.
 
Unsurprisingly, the media have been really interested in the story and most major media outlets have covered the story. Every journalist we have spoken to has encouraged us and said they are glad someone is standing up for fans in this way. You can see a selection of the press coverage on the following links:

BBC: Manchester United Supporters’ Trust set to launch legal action over Chelsea away ticket allocation 

Independent: Manchester United fans threaten legal proceedings over reduced Chelsea ticket allocation 

The Athletic: MUST instructs lawyers over Manchester United’s reduced allocation for Chelsea trip

Football Joe: Man United fans threaten legal action over Chelsea ticket allocation

For those who want to read the full legal letter, you can find it on THIS LINK. We will update you over the weekend once a decision has been taken on next steps.
 
Thank you for your ongoing support.