Appalled by the price gouging, Reds fan group Spirit of Shankly — backed by the Arsenal Supporters Trust — has written to both clubs to request that more consideration be given to the travelling fans. Combined with the outrageous pricing, the possibility of the kick-off time being shifted to accommodate live-TV coverage could further impact those travelling from Merseyside. Following the league fixture in November, where travelling Reds supporters were charged up to 72% more than fellow Merseysiders Everton, we’ve got a rare bit of good news to report — they’ve listened to our concerns.
The Arsenal hierarchy has not only understood our position, but they’ve done something about it. The fixture, to be played on the weekend of February 15/16 will be designated a Category B fixture which leads to a significant price drop for the 9,000 fans expected to make the trip from Merseyside to London. A statement from Arsenal read:
“Arsenal has announced that the forthcoming FA Cup fifth-round tie against Liverpool will be classified as a Category B fixture. This match would normally be designated as an A category game.”
“However, after the FA Cup draw was made on Sunday, the club considered a wide range of factors, including our Cup draws to date and our forthcoming fixture schedule, and has decided to make it a B category match.”
Although the prices remain a tad on the high side, those travelling to the Emirates are expected to be charged no more than £54, with many seats available for a much more reasonable price of £35.50. Congrats to SOS for this remarkable win and to the Arsenal Supporters trust for supporting fair football pricing.
