The FFA’s decision to charge fans a $15 admission view to watch Manchester United train at Allianz Stadium next Friday night has drawn the ire of football fans.
Members of the FFA’s ‘Football Family’ were contacted via email yesterday afternoon advising of the offer, which went on sale at 11am AEST this morning.
Manchester United are set to arrive in Sydney next week ahead of their friendly with the A-League All Stars at ANZ Stadium on July 20.
Fans and football took to social media to expression their frustration for having to pay, after tickets to the friendly sold out in just seven minutes, with The Australian’s Ray Gatt labelling the move a “public relations disaster” on Twitter.
Roar expert Tony Tannous provided an explanation from the FFA as to why the fee had been charged:
Has the FFA fairly asked for costs to be paid by football fans? Or should fans be able to see the English Premier League Champions train for free?
marantz ki
Guest
I remember an incident when Liverpool were in singapore, I think and they had opened up their training sessions, where the local fans could see them train and one person turns up with a man utd shirt on! needless to say this didn't go down very well, with the assembled Liverpool fans:). Anyway if you are going to watch man utd train don't put on a man city,liverpool, arsenal, chelsea, newcastle utd, spurs etc shirt on, whatever you do.
Ballymore
Guest
If someone said to me "Ballymore, a group of people are going to watch you at work today, and to pay for this to happen we'll take it out your wages" I'd be less than impressed.
Romero
Guest
For $15 it isn't that bad. The ground would be swamped too if anyone could show up, and ticketing at least regulates numbers.
Football United
Roar Pro
This. Only a handfull of outsiders have seen united train in the last 20 odd years
nordster
Guest
User pays, friend :)
Jukes
Guest
I wasnt going to watch them train anyway.
1860melbourne
Guest
Hope the money goes into the coffers of our A-league clubs. Dont mind this at all.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Any ManUnited fan, anywhere in the world, would gladly fork out $100 to watch ManUnited training. In the UK, training is behind closed doors.
Franko
Guest
So they need to raise AU$300,000 to cover the costs of putting on training. Should 20,000 Australians pay $15 each or should they take it out of: The £17million paid for Owen Hargreaves The £7 milion paid for Bebe The £6.5 million paid for Erik Djemba-Djemba Rooneys wage for 1 week
Mal of Adelaide
Guest
Bargain.
Stevo
Guest
Apparently it costs $$$$ to open up a stadium for fans to enter. Staff, security, etc etc. Sounds cheap to me anyway for a couple of hours of entertainment - cheering and booing !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
AZ_RBB
Guest
very happily just bought 2 tickets. this is a once in a decade opportunity. all the money in the world won't get you into Carrington.
Kane Cassidy
Roar Guru
Who is complaining? Anyone not willing to pay out $15 to see one of the worlds best teams train needs a life and a job.
Dave
Guest
Agreed Ben. The one exception I would make If I was the FFA would be to say that anyone with an FFA coaching certificate (or who is currently working towards one) gets in free. And anyone in this category should get front row seats.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
This is an exhibition designed to raise some $$ for the FA coffers in the off-season. The FFA are shelling $$ out for this and should be able to recoup the money as best they can. The FFA's mandate is the governance of football in Australia, not the well-being of Manchester United fans; this is the responsibility of Man U. If it was $15 to watch an open Socceroos training it would be a different matter; it is not.