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The Reason Why A Manchester City Fan Has Tickets Cancelled For Celtic Game

The Reason Why A Manchester City Fan Has Tickets Cancelled For Celtic Game

Manchester City host Celtic tonight in the final Champions League game.

Josh Lawless

Josh Lawless

One Manchester City who purchased tickets for tonight's Champions League Group C clash with Celtic will not be allowed to attend the game.

Derek Pettigrew, who lives in Scotland, ordered five tickets as he was to bring his family, including his City-mad son Liam, to the Etihad for the game.

He purchased the tickets back in September but was informed that his tickets have been cancelled just last week. He has received a full refund for his tickets order but says he also forked out £400 for travel and accommodation

He and his family will not be able to watch the game at the Stadium because of a change in the ticketing system at the club.

Derek Pettigrew wife Fiona, 47, son Liam, eight, and daughters Leah, 10 and Emma, 12, who have had their tickets for MCFC v Celtic cancelled
Derek Pettigrew wife Fiona, 47, son Liam, eight, and daughters Leah, 10 and Emma, 12, who have had their tickets for MCFC v Celtic cancelled

Image via The Manchester Evening News

Derek has been told he is ineligible as he doesn't have any purchase history at the club before August 25th this year - a criteria that City have introduced for the game. The reason they have introduced the scheme is because of several away fans getting tickets in the City end for games at the Etihad and though Celtic were given a healthy allocation of 3,000 tickets for the away end, there is a danger of Celtic fans purchasing tickets for the home end.

City have addressed that situation but it has come at the expense of a genuine supporter, who was already registered with the club but was yet to purchase a ticket since their move to a digital system - which is why the club have opted to cancel them.

47-year old Derek was understandably upset as his eight-year old son was looking forward to the game.

Speaking to The Manchester Evening News, he said:

"I understand they don't want Celtic fans in the Man City section. But I think they're a bit over-cautious. I've been a fan since the 1981 FA Cup final. And my wife's grandma was from Salford and was a big Man City fan as well so we have a double connection."

"It's really disappointing. Especially for my little boy. He's City mad and we'd planning on bringing him to a game.

"And we thought this was perfect with the connection of them playing a Scottish team.

"So he was really upset when we told."

Derek says that he and his wife, son and two daughters will still travel for tonight's game but should they still have no luck in attending the game, they will find something else to do.

Is this harsh from City are is it simply standard procedure? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

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