The Professional Game Board (PGB) has imposed a sanction on Arsenal Football Club (FC) for violating the 2024-25 FA Cup Rule 192. The breach occurred during its FA Cup third-round tie against Manchester United FC, which took place on Sunday, January 12, 2025.
To comprehend the nature of this violation, it's essential to understand what these rules entail. Rule 192 stipulates that the home club must comply with any ticket requests made in accordance with Rule 191.
For competition matches other than a semi-final or final, Rule 191 allows the away club to claim either:
- Up to 15% of issued tickets (with a maximum limit of 9,000); or
- If the ground is not all ticketed, up to 15% of the ground’s maximum capacity.
However, two conditions must be met:
- The tickets are for admission to a fully segregated area.
- The request for tickets is made within four days following the relevant draw.
Arsenal's alleged violation and PGB's decision
It was alleged that Arsenal FC had failed to adhere to these regulations as outlined in FA Cup Rule 192. Consequently, this matter was referred to PGB for consideration. After careful deliberation and review of evidence presented before them, PGB concluded that indeed Arsenal FC had breached rule number 192 from 2024-25 season’s FA cup ruleset. As such they decided upon imposing a suspended fine amounting £500k on Arsenal FC.
Interestingly enough though this fine is currently suspended pending confirmation from Arsenal FC regarding their ability and willingness to comply with the said requirement for the 2025-26 FA Cup third round. This also extends to their continued compliance in any further rounds of this season’s competition. This essentially means that Arsenal FC has been given a chance to rectify its mistake and avoid paying the hefty fine, provided they adhere strictly to these rules in future matches.
The PGB's decision sends a clear message about the importance of adhering strictly to competition rules. It serves as a reminder that no club, regardless of its stature or popularity, is above these regulations. The suspended fine offers Arsenal FC an opportunity for redemption and underscores the importance of fair play and respect for all participating teams' rights.
