Manchester City versus Real Madrid has quickly become the biggest European rivalry on the Champions League stage. It has gone from strength to strength to become the hottest fixture in the contemporary era. So it’s only natural that its tickets are the most sought-after in Europe.
But what has City fans fuming is the number of casual Madrid fans – many wearing half-and-half scarves – managing to get tickets in the home stands at the Etihad.
You see, it has always been a tricky situation for big clubs to maintain that fine balance between catering to local fans and catering to international casuals.
It’s never easy, and this incident has only added to the existing tension.
Many City fans expressed their disdain on X (formerly Twitter) regarding the situation.
One user pointed out that the Etihad atmosphere felt watered down, like being present in Disneyland. Another pointed out, in not-so-kind words, that City have become everything they slated United for.
You never want away fans to sit in your stands and celebrate goals that have gone against you. But that is exactly what a few Madrid fans did when Bellingham scored the 90th-minute winner.
Anger reached absurdity when a Real Madrid fan sitting in the home end was pictured getting a haircut.
One City fan summed up this absurdity with a tweet: “Can’t transfer a ticket to your family, but you can wear a Madrid shirt and get a trim in the stands.”
Now…
Is there another side to this?
The club might argue that the tickets are available for everyone to purchase. So could it be that City fans failed to turn up? Plus, international fans are fans too.
But then the Blue Mancunians’ counter can be that they are being priced out. Accounting for the current economy and inflation rates of the UK… it has become very difficult for fans to buy Champions League tickets.
It has become a luxury, too costly for the common Joe to afford.
Whereas international fans can chalk it off as a once-in-a-lifetime expense.
They don’t have to turn up week in and week out.
One fan on X claimed, “City doesn’t care who buys the tickets as long as they make money.” But the result of this is a weakened home atmosphere, which could impact the team’s performances in crucial games.
A few suggested attending lower-league games where the traditional fan culture is still preserved.
A suggestion of giving up.
Anyway, these conversations will forever go on.
How a club manages the fine lines between serving local fans and casual internationals is an issue without a solution in sight.
For the now and here… Manchester City must divert their attention to Newcastle on the weekend and to then overturning their deficit at the Bernabéu come Wednesday!
