Chelsea want more tickets
19 Apr 2007 - 13:14:04
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- Chelsea want more tickets
Chelsea have hit out at the Football Association over their allocation of 25,000 tickets for next month's FA Cup final.
Both the Blues and final opponents Manchester United have each been granted 25,000 tickets for the showpiece despite the new Wembley having a capacity of 90,000.
The FA have confirmed that a further 30 per cent of the total allocation will be given to grassroots sources which make up the other 90 Premier League and Football League clubs, plus various delegates from professional and amateur bodies.
Meanwhile, the remaining tickets will go to Club Wembley members.
The 25,000 awarded to both clubs represents a 1,500 increase on last year's FA Cup final at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium, but Chelsea still believe they deserve a greater share.
"At a meeting, Chelsea FC was advised by the Football Association of the allocation to the clubs for the FA Cup final at Wembley," read a club statement.
"We were very disappointed to receive this news as many of our regular fans will now miss out on a great day for both clubs."
However, despite coming under fire for both the cup final ticket policy and pricing, the FA have defended their actions.
"It is undoubtedly the biggest domestic cup final in the world and as such it belongs to the whole country as well as the two competing teams and their supporters," confirmed their own statement.
"It is also an occasion to reward the thousands of individuals who give up their time and energy to football, without whom the grassroots game would not function."
Meanwhile, the FA have revealed that Steve Bennett will referee the first FA Cup final back at the new Wembley.
The Kent official has been a referee since 1984 and has previously officiated at cup finals as a linesman (1995) and fourth official (2001).