Manchester City have returned close to a third of their allocation for Sunday's Premier League match at Arsenal, after supporters balked at the £62 ticket price, reports The Guardian. The Premier League champions were given a 3,000 allocation but 912 were sent back and are being sold by Arsenal.
The London club's own supporters have become increasingly vocal about pricing - Arsenal's tickets in an equivalent area on Sunday, plus the returned away tickets, will also cost £62.
City have sought to play down the affair and Arsenal insisted they were close to selling out the remaining tickets. Kevin Parker, the general secretary of the Manchester City Supporters Club, said: "It's the most expensive amount I can ever remember paying for a ticket in my life, for a Sunday afternoon game which is live on satellite television.
"And it's not as if finding a television to watch the game on is difficult nowadays. Even if the game wasn't live, to charge £62 to watch it is ridiculous, but to charge that amount when people can see it live on TV is crazy.
"It just shows that football clubs are out of touch with reality. If City supporters are travelling on a supporters' club coach it will cost £30 per person. That's £92 before they have even done anything; add in a programme, food, drink and you are looking at £125-£130 per person.
"There are a combination of things at play here. Some people cannot afford the price, especially as it is just after Christmas, and there are some who just refuse to pay £62.
"This is also the first time in a long while that I remember City fans saying to me they could pay the money but are refusing to do so. That is a brave decision to take. Soon, though, fans will vote more strongly with their feet and clubs like Arsenal will have to decide what to do about ticket prices."
