Absolute joke’  Man City fans left in furious as FA cup fixture vs Tottenham’s moved 

‘Absolute joke’  Man City fans left in furious as FA cup fixture vs Tottenham’s moved

Manchester City’s FA Cup fixture with Tottenham has been moved to a kick-off slot that will make it extremely difficult for away fans to organise travel arrangements.

Manchester City are holders of the FA Cup

Manchester City are holders of the FA Cup

Manchester City fans have hit out at the Football Association and broadcasters for moving the club’s FA Cup fourth round trip to Tottenham to an 8pm Friday kick-off.

 

 

The match is due to be shown live on ITV on January 26, five days before City’s Premier League home clash with Burnley the following Wednesday. While it allows more time for players to rest given the tie has been moved from Saturday, supporters feel no regard has been paid for match-goers travelling to London.

 

The current train timetable shows that the last train back to Manchester from the capital sets off at 10.03pm, which would leave an impossible turnaround after full-time should fans not leave the stadium in advance.

 

Kevin Parker, the general secretary of Manchester City Official Supporters Club, reacted to the fixture change on social media, saying: “These FA Cup kick-off times are a disgrace. @FA a joke once again. Fans never, ever considered.”

 

The change comes after City fans managed to amend the kick-off time for last year’s Community Shield against Arsenal through protests after the match was scheduled for a late afternoon start on a Sunday. Boycotts of the match were staged by some fan groups as a result.

 

City fans while supporters of other clubs, including Newcastle United and Maidstone United, are also disgruntled with rescheduled kick-off times. Many City followers have taken to social media to air their grievances.

 

@clpblue1: Absolute disgrace @ManCityHelp Does anyone actually care about the match going fans?? @itvfootball The last train home is before the game finishes!

 

@YellowMustangMM: Absolute disgrace that this has been agreed to. Not one minute’s thought for the travelling fans. 9,000 having to navigate #avantiwestcoast or Friday motorways with ridiculous options for getting home as well. At some point clubs need to stand up to TV and say no.

 

 

@LeeWild8: That’s lovely, potentially 2-3am when the fans get home and lots will have to take time off work to go to because @fa… do not care about the fans at all. I imagine getting train back to Manchester will be tough so couch or driving only.

 

@blueinyorkshire: Last train back to Manchester on Friday for us city fans is 10.03.. before our match ends…it’s a disgrace.

 

@byadamshaw: Last train back to Manchester is 10:03pm too, so for an 8pm KO this would be virtually impossible to catch (unless you leave way before FT). Luckily I live London, but it’s poor thinking from the FA.

 

 

@steviecruyff: So the match will finish around 10 pm and the last train back to Manchester is 10.03pm, the @FootballAssoc don’t give a damn for the fans do they.

 

@SteveRossUmp: Use public transport they say, don’t drive they say, then they put 9,500 fans in North London on a Friday night when the last train back to Manchester leaves before the game ends. Fans might make it back if they leave at half time – absolute joke @EmiratesFACup @FA.