UNITED ALLOCATIONS TO BE REDUCED

'Red Issue has learnt that a meeting of the PL stadium safety officers and club
representatives was held in Birmingham recently, at which visiting supporters
were graded on their "behaviour". Needless to say United fans "faired really,
really badly" according to our source. Apparently we stood "all the time"
regardless of what was happening.

'RI is led to believe that this is going to be used against United fans this season
with many sides drastically cutting our allocation and possibly banning United
fans altogether.'

Following on from this fellow United fanzine RN now reports:

'United fans face further cuts in away ticket allocations after meetings between
officials of the power brokers and safety committees within football…the Premier League and FA have been discussing the issue of standing at away games...
Amongst them there is a body of opinion that felt it was time to make an example of United away fans.

Seemingly the only thing that stopped them moving forward was the reluctance
of some of the clubs to lose the revenue we bring to clubs with our massive
turnouts. We fear that the FA and the League have a good chance of persuading these clubs to go with the majority and introduce a season long restriction of
United fans to 500 per game. That would include any FA Cup away games too.'

Obviously this has not occurred for the opening day's fixture at Chelsea but
despite that Reds should not immediately suppose that this story is therefore
inaccurate. Red Issue contacted United to enquire what the club's response
would be should clubs seek to reduce our allocation on the basis of "persistent
standing", given that the independent study carried out into its "dangers"
discovered persistent standing was safer than "standing at moments of
excitement". The club responded:

"The Club objects to all situations where our allocation is being reduced. But the final decision rests with local police, safety authorities and clubs.

"Manchester United was one of seven clubs called in by the Premier League at
the end of last season because of the persistent standing of our supporters. It is a problem the club has recognised and… the Club is investigating setting up a
working party to include the fans to try and tackle the problem.

"But it remains the case that, where clubs receive advice from safety or police
authorities, they are required to act on it. If that advice is to cut allocations, there is very little either United or the home club can do to reverse the decision.
"The club has taken the view that it will not respond in a tit for tat fashion. The
Board believes such action would be counterproductive and could end up further harming our fans on their visits to other Premier League grounds.

"While I appreciate that's not going to be a popular view, that's the one the
club has taken."

So basically United are going to allow the authorities to get away with banning
United fans on spurious safety grounds. At a time when attending football match has never been safer anything that can be used to limit or ban "unruly masses"
that only want to support their team will be done.

We either accept that fact and lose what our supporting heritage, or we fight
these faceless and unaccountable authorities and "safety committees" who make these decisions, all so they can abdicate their responsibilities in favour of an easier life. And that goes for United's officials too who do as little as possible (c.f. The FA Cup semi-final ticket reduction)

Better to die on your feet than live on your knees, people.