Today, we wrote to the club regarding FA Cup Final ticketing allocations on behalf of our members and other City supporters. The letter is produced here in full and we will update members with any response we receive:
To: The Board of Manchester City Football Club
From: The Citizens Trust – Manchester City Supporters’ Union
Subject: Request for Transparency Regarding Allocation of Cup Final Tickets to the Official Supporters Club
2 May 2026
Dear Board Members,
We are writing on behalf of The Citizens Trust and our members to request greater transparency and clarity regarding the allocation of cup final tickets to branches of the Official Supporters Club (OSC).
In recent seasons, there have been growing concerns from supporters about the scale, distribution, and oversight of OSC ticket allocations for major fixtures, particularly domestic away games and European finals. These concerns do not question the value of the OSC; rather, they reflect a wider need for fairness, accountability, transparency and consistency across all ticketing pathways.
Given the significance of cup finals and the limited availability of tickets, it is essential that the process is clearly understood by supporters and is demonstrably equitable. At present, the lack of published criteria or transparent allocation methodology has created uncertainty, disappointment and, in some cases, a perception of imbalance between OSC members and the wider fanbase, especially for supporters on the Cup Scheme who have supported the team throughout the FA Cup campaign this season.
To address this constructively, we are asking the Club to provide:
- A clear explanation of the criteria used to determine OSC ticket allocations for all games, including how branch size, activity, or engagement is assessed.
- The total number of tickets allocated to the OSC for recent finals, expressed both as an absolute number and as a percentage of the Club’s overall ticket allocation.
- Details of the governance and oversight mechanisms that ensure allocations are managed fairly and by whom.
- Confirmation that tickets were only initially distributed to season ticket holders who are on the cup scheme
- Confirmation of any changes planned for future finals, particularly in light of supporter feedback and the Club’s commitment to transparency.
- Clarity around decision making for the FA cup final this year which has led to priority for OSC members, some of whom may not have attended a game this season, over long standing season ticket holders and cup scheme members. This has meant the majority of the more affordable tickets were purchased very quickly and potentially by members of OSCs who had not previously attended any Cup games which seems incredibly unfair.
- Clarity over whether the FA Cup scheme will be retained for next season, and what the benefits of the scheme will be so supporters can understand what they are entitled to if they purchase this option.
We believe that publishing this information would strengthen trust between the Club and its supporters, reduce speculation, and ensure that all fans—whether part of the OSC, the Trust, or neither—feel confident that ticketing processes are fair and accountable. This is a long standing issue but the strength of feeling around the most recent decision to change the way tickets for OSC members have been allocated for the FA Cup final renders the current situation much more acute.
The Supporters’ Trust remains committed to working collaboratively with the Club to improve supporter experience. We would welcome the opportunity to discuss this matter further and to support the development of a transparent framework that benefits the entire fanbase.
Thank you for your attention to this important issue. We look forward to your response.
Yours sincerely,
The Interim Board