Arsenal are under scrutiny for allegedly breaching a significant UEFA regulation ahead of their Champions League semi-final tie with Paris Saint-Germain.
After an impressive 5-1 aggregate victory over 15-time champions Real Madrid in the quarter-finals, Arsenal are set to face PSG in a two-legged encounter, with the first match scheduled at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday, 29 April.
However, tensions have arisen before the match due to a ticketing dispute.
According to France Bleu, thousands of PSG supporters remain uncertain about their chances of attending the game, as tickets for the away section have yet to be released—just days before kickoff.
The delay is reportedly linked to Arsenal not following UEFA’s official guidelines, which mandate that 5% of a stadium’s capacity be allocated to visiting fans. This would entitle PSG to 3,000 tickets at the Emirates.
This number matches what PSG received for their group stage visit in October, where Arsenal triumphed 2-0 thanks to goals from Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka.
Despite this precedent, reports suggest Arsenal is attempting to limit PSG’s allocation to 2,500 tickets without providing an explanation.
“PSG is pushing to enforce the rule and secure 3,000 spots for their supporters at the Emirates, but their efforts have so far been unsuccessful,” a source told France Bleu.
With ticket demand expected to be exceptionally high, PSG fans remain hopeful for the full 3,000-ticket allocation, including the additional 500 currently in question.
This isn’t the first time Arsenal has faced such allegations. In January, during an FA Cup clash with Manchester United, the club was similarly accused of violating ticketing rules by only allocating 8,000 tickets instead of the 9,000 United were entitled to. According to Mike Keegan of the Daily Mail, the decision was made due to “safety concerns” raised by the Safety Advisory Group, which includes club representatives, local authorities, and emergency services.