Manchester City's frosty relationship with their own supporters has taken a new twist as it has been revealed that a supporters group have taken legal action against the club in relation to their new season ticket policy.
The new policy, which has come into effect immediately, means that all season tickets must now be used for 16 of the club's 19 home Premier League fixtures. As part of this 16-game requirement, each season ticket holder must personally attend at least ten fixtures.
For the other six, they are able to either sell the ticket back to the club or forward them on to eligible members.
Trade Union Blues take legal action over season ticket policy
The new policy was part of the reason for protests at the Etihad Stadium at the back end of last season, with supporters arguing that they should be able to do what they like with their season ticket and not be bound by the club's forwarding rules.
Now, a supporters group known as the Trade Union Blues have taken the issue to a law firm, Leigh Day, who are urging Man City to review the policy. The argument is that the new requirements ‘potentially give rise to claims under the Equality Act of 2010'.
The secretary of the Trade Union Blues, Chris Neville, told the Guardian:
“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. Many of our members have followed City through thick and thin and now face exclusion because of inflexible criteria that takes no account of individual circumstances.”
FGG says: Ten games should be met
While I do believe there are issues with the new policy, mainly relating to how the club are dictating who each season ticket holder is allowed to pass their ticket onto, I'm finding it difficult to understand why attending ten of 19 games is a sticking point. If you are no longer in a position where attending ten games is feasible, then you probably shouldn't have a season ticket.