Man City Season Tickets: Fan Legal Challenge
- Manchester City is facing legal action from its own supporters over a new season ticket policy.
- Trade Union Blues, a group of Manchester City supporters who are also union members, has enlisted the help of law firm Leigh Day to challenge the policy.
- Chris Neville,secretary of Trade Union Blues,argues the policy punishes fans for circumstances beyond their control. he said that illness, pregnancy, disability, caring responsibilities, or working shifts could now...
Manchester City fans are taking legal action over the club’s new season ticket policy, which mandates attendance at a minimum number of home matches. At the heart of the dispute, the primary_keyword “season ticket policy” is challenged by the Trade Union Blues, a fan group, who allege discrimination. This group, supported by law firm Leigh Day, claims the policy could violate the Equality Act of 2010, citing concerns for fans facing difficulties like illness, pregnancy, or shift work; it may threaten their ability to secure future tickets. The secondary_keyword “Manchester City” faces scrutiny as the legal battle unfolds. News Directory 3 delivers the latest developments in this ongoing story. Discover what’s next as this case could reshape how other Premier League clubs manage their ticketing systems.
Manchester City Season Ticket Policy Faces Legal Challenge Over Fan Treatment
Updated June 11, 2025
Manchester City is facing legal action from its own supporters over a new season ticket policy. The policy requires fans to attend at least 10 league matches to retain their tickets for the following season, a rule that has sparked outrage among some of the club’s loyal fanbase.
Trade Union Blues, a group of Manchester City supporters who are also union members, has enlisted the help of law firm Leigh Day to challenge the policy. the group contends that the attendance requirement “potentially gives rise to claims under the Equality Act of 2010,” suggesting the policy unfairly impacts certain individuals.
Chris Neville,secretary of Trade Union Blues,argues the policy punishes fans for circumstances beyond their control. he said that illness, pregnancy, disability, caring responsibilities, or working shifts could now jeopardize a fan’s season ticket. Neville added that many long-time City supporters now face exclusion due to inflexible criteria that disregard individual circumstances.
The policy, announced last month after season-ticket prices were frozen, increased the required number of attended home league matches from 14 to 16. It also limited the number of games season-ticket holders could share or resell to six.
Manchester City officials have stated that ticket utilization is a growing concern. The club told City Matters in Febuary that an average of 8% of its 37,000 season-ticket holders do not attend each Premier League game. Other clubs, such as Liverpool and Arsenal, also have mandatory attendance requirements, but thay do not cap the number of games that can be shared or resold. Arsenal provides exemptions for season-ticket holders with disabilities.
Ryan Bradshaw,a human rights partner at Leigh Day,said Manchester City’s updated policy applies a blanket attendance requirement that significantly disadvantages protected groups under the Equality Act.Bradshaw added that there is no indication that any meaningful mitigation procedures are in place, disadvantaging working-class fans with shift patterns or precarious employment who may be unable to attend games for fear of losing their jobs.
This policy doesn’t reward loyalty – it punishes people for being human. Illness, pregnancy, disability, caring responsibilities or working shifts [could] now cost you your season ticket.
Chris Neville, secretary of Trade Union Blues
What’s next
The legal challenge could force Manchester City to reconsider its season ticket policy and potentially implement exemptions or option arrangements for fans facing legitimate barriers to attendance. The outcome may also influence similar policies at other clubs.