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Manchester City come under fresh scrutiny after thousands of seats at the Etihad Stadium were left empty for their clash with Brighton & Hove Albion.
The attendance debate has intensified after a second midweek fixture in eight days attracted criticism over the number of supporters missing from the stands.
Man City fans continue to stay away during midweek matches
City’s meeting with Brighton in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night reportedly saw around 12,000 empty seats, with an attendance of just over 49,000 at the Etihad.
The figure followed a similar situation during last week's Champions League clash with AEK Athens, reigniting debate over the club’s ability to fill their stadium for matches outside the Premier League spotlight.
Despite the gaps in the stands, those who attended witnessed a closely contested encounter. Brighton twice took the lead through Malick Yalcouye and Georginio Rutter, while Mateo Kovacic equalised for City before Vitor Reis forced a penalty shootout with a late deflected effort.
City goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli then proved decisive, saving from Yasin Ayari before denying Seagulls captain Lewis Dunk in sudden death to secure his side’s progression to the quarter-finals.
The attendance has also attracted attention amid continued scrutiny of City’s finances and their ongoing Premier League charges, although the empty seats alone do not establish any connection to those matters.
The contrast between the Etihad’s attendance for midweek games and the demand for high-profile European fixtures has become a recurring talking point, with critics questioning why a club of City’s recent success continues to leave significant sections of its stadium unoccupied.
FGG says: Etihad’s empty seats remain an unwanted talking point
An attendance of more than 49,000 is hardly a deserted stadium, but thousands of empty seats are noticeable for a club that has enjoyed sustained domestic success and boasts some of the biggest names in football.
Midweek scheduling, opposition and competition can all affect demand, so the figures should not automatically be treated as evidence of widespread discontent among City supporters.
Nevertheless, repeated gaps at the Etihad create an image problem that the club will want to address.