An avid Manchester City supporter has been ‘banned’ from attending a match at the Etihad Stadium due to him being from a certain place.
A six-year-old City fan will not be allowed to attend this Saturday’s FA Cup fifth round clash against Championship side Plymouth Argyle due to where he lives.
Jenson Shears had been looking forward to seeing his team play in what would have been his first time attending a game at the Etihad.
Unfortunately, his parents were informed by the Premier League champions that the family’s match tickets had been cancelled after a safety review.
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The reason for the cancellation was the fact that the family live in Exeter, Devon.
As reported by Plymouth Live, safety fears were raised ahead of the Plymouth match regarding fans allegedly attempting to buy tickets in the home end rather than in the away section.
Although it is thought that some Argyle fans have attempted to sign up for City memberships to try and secure a ticket for the occasion, Jenson’s parents argue that Exeter is 50 miles away from Plymouth, and they can prove that their son is a City supporter.
"Jenson is a huge Manchester City fan, and this is the first game we have been able to afford to send him to,” Jenson’s mother, Shelby Fenwick, told Plymouth Live.
“We booked the tickets via the phone on Tuesday, February 18, as soon as they went on sale and booked a hotel etc.
"Late Wednesday evening, February 26, we received an email to say he was no longer able to attend and his tickets were cancelled due to people from Plymouth booking into the Manchester City zones and him living in a surrounding area. I would not class Exeter as a surrounding area considering we are a different city.
"My son thought for eight days that he was going to his first big match and is now absolutely heartbroken. We contacted Man City via email and telephone, sending pictures of our son in his Man City bedroom with all his Man City football kits etc but have not had a reply, so have still been refused entry."
City issued a cancellation email which read: "It has become apparent that a number of tickets have been purchased in the home areas of the stadium by people based in Plymouth and surrounding areas who have not previously attended a Manchester City match at the Etihad Stadium before.
"Following a review undertaken by Manchester City’s safety and security department, anyone who has not previously purchased a ticket to a match at the Etihad Stadium and has a registered address in the Plymouth area will not be allowed to purchase a ticket(s) in any designated home area of the stadium.”
A Manchester City Football Club spokesperson explained how the boy and his family have been “invited to attend a game in the future as guests of the club in hospitality”.
Topics: Manchester City, FA Cup, Premier League, Football
Luke Davies