Arsenal fan groups urge season-ticket holders to boycott FA Cup tie in latest protest over ticket prices

James Olley10 March 2016

Arsenal could play Sunday’s FA Cup quarter-final against Watford in front of thousands of empty seats after fans were urged to boycott the game in an ongoing protest over ticket prices.

Three prominent supporters’ voices — Black Scarf Movement, REDaction and The Gooner — have released a joint statement urging season-ticket holders not to take up their seat to avoid an additional cost on their renewal for next year.

They receive seven cup credits as part of their season ticket so will have to pay between £35-£70 extra as the game is the eighth home cup match of the season.

Last month, the club announced a surcharge for the Champions League last-16, first-leg against Barcelona — the seventh match — before protests forced them to reverse that decision.

After Premier League clubs yesterday voted to cap away tickets at £30 for three years starting next season, a group of Arsenal fans are looking to maintain pressure on the club to lower the highest ticket prices in the country.

Supporters had until midday today to give up their seat. “If several thousand season ticket holders opt out of Sunday’s game, the club will be under no illusion that they can simply do as they choose without alienating the most loyal element of their fanbase,” read the statement. “So act now if your pocket has already felt enough pain or if you want to send an important message to the club.”

Arsenal have also offered a further subsidy of £4 on the £30 away ticket meaning no fan will pay more than £26 — a move that will save those attending every game nearly £370.

And the club announced a season ticket price freeze for the next two seasons but Kevin Whitcher, editor of The Gooner, believes they can do much more given the new £8bn TV deal commencing next season. He also cited the £3million payments to owner Stan Kroenke two years in a row for “strategic and advisory services”.

Watch: Arsenal fan group REDaction's stadium-wide display ahead of Barcelona

“This presents season-ticket holders with the chance to send a message that merely freezing admission prices for a couple of seasons is not enough,” he told Standard Sport. “They need to look at lowering them, and also revisit the annual £3m payment that the majority owner takes out.

“The consequence of this protest will be a drop in income unless they sell all the unwanted seats. It may lead to the sight of a large number of empty places, a clear message to the club that they can only push fans so far.

“It will force the board to think long and hard about their pricing policy, or risk further alienating a fanbase that is fed up with being exploited.”

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