Leicester City fans' fury over FA Cup ticket row for Norwich match
Leicester City fans say they feel slighted by a "high-risk" status which has affected ticket allocation for their FA Cup tie at Norwich.
City should have received 15 per cent of the allocation, around 4,200 tickets, for the fifth-round tie at Carrow Road on Saturday week, but that has been cut to 2,400 on police advice.
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City took 8,000 fans to the City Ground for the FA Cup match against Nottingham Forest last month
Sources close to City say the club are dismayed by suggestions that their fans pose a "high risk" and point to an "exemplary" record in recent years.
Norfolk County Council's safety advisory group (SAG), which made the decision to reduce the allocation at the 27,000-capacity Carrow Road, says it will now review its policy, but that will be too late to have any influence on the Norwich v City match.
Lance Tomlyn, chairman of City's Independent Supporters Association, expressed his anger at the decision to reduce the allocation.
If Leicester's fans are being deemed a high risk by the SAG Tomlyn asked: "Where is the evidence of this?"
He added: "We took 8,000 fans to Nottingham Forest, who are our bitter local rivals, and if there was likely to be any trouble it would have been there, but there wasn't.
"There is no credible evidence to say we constitute a risk and we feel slighted by this."
Tomlyn has called on City to make fresh representations to Norwich over the issue, and said: "This is their chance to do something for the fans.
"They said how fantastic they were at Southampton and we were grateful for a pie and a pint, but now I want to see them get right behind this one."
Matt Davis, of the Foxes Trust, said he was not aware of any arrest patterns that had shown problems, and added: "It may be a way of Norwich gaining an advantage."
Lee Jobber, a regular on City's away trips, also blasted the decision.
He said: "I can't remember the last time there was any trouble involving our fans at away grounds, and where is the conflict with Norwich?"
City said yesterday they had spoken to the Football Association about the reduced allocation.
An FA spokesman confirmed the decision was taken on ground safety.
A SAG spokesman said: "Following representations from the football club and advice from Norfolk Constabulary, the SAG supported the Constabulary's view that, on this occasion, the visiting supporters' allocation should not be increased to 4,000.
"The Football Association took the final decision based on advice it received from the various parties involved.
"The SAG supports Norfolk Constabulary's suggestion that a review be carried out with the aim of enabling future cup ties to go ahead safely with 15 per cent of away fans present."
Norwich have not commented publicly, although, as with the Leicester equivalent, the club does have representation on the SAG.
Their latest Customer Charter states: "The club will allocate tickets for matches at Carrow Road in accordance with published ticketing regulations for the applicable competition, unless it receives contrary instructions or advice from the police or Norfolk County Council's Safety Advisory Group."
Robin Sainty, of the Independent Norwich City Supporters Club, said he felt for Leicester fans.
He added: "I can sympathise with anyone who wants to watch their team and cannot.
"I don't know the ins and outs of the decision which has been taken by the SAG, but I think I can understand it.
"In the Jarrold Stand, where the away fans are housed, the only segregation from home supporters in the same stand is netting and a section of empty seats.
"I suspect the SAG may have also felt that the club could not cope with a full allocation of 4,200.
"The way the supporters are set up in the stand, it is always a concern.
"If there was a significant element that wanted to kick off it would be difficult to handle although, personally, I have never had an issue with Leicester fans."
The record attendance at Carrow Road is 43,984 for a sixth-round FA Cup tie in 1963 – against Leicester.
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by DorsetFox
Sunday, February 12 2012, 9:10PM
“Keith
I think you are wrong about CP train- I have read his posts which have a school masters 'i know better than anyone else' attitude - I dont think he is our infamous dement- unless he has recently gone to adult literaracy courses
anyway he is somewhat right we are a mid table team- some of our players are average and we are having delusions of grandure
But you know what I think- we still have an outside chance- a couple of wins and we are on the way- we have as good a group of players as anyone in the division.
I saw the cardiff game on Thai TV - impressive-”
by foxyrod
Sunday, February 12 2012, 12:20PM
“im not gonna slate greatcanaries ok his spellings bad, but mine isnt perfik either, and hes had a bit of a pop at our club , but really hes probably just a bit embaressed about the ticket situation . and lets be fair , it is 100% NOT the norwich fans faults , it is mainly down to the police and safety issues ( even if they are false issues) . NORMANDAD you are right, cptrain IS fred .and GHOSTY thats a superb idea, lets not buy any programmes and no drinks and no bernard mathews turkey burgers from norwich ever again. with the money saved we can buy double pies if it comes back to the KP for the replay . on second thoughts i think i will just stick the money saved on the mighty blue foxes winning the cup”
by DanishFox
Sunday, February 12 2012, 10:11AM
“According to Frankie Boyle, Norwich will be underwater in 20 years´time. The inhabitants are quite looking forward to it though, ´cos then they`ll have a use for their webbed hands & feet! Another gem from "Live at the Apollo".”
by TheGeofflane
Friday, February 10 2012, 3:23PM
“Distinct absence of literate Norwich fans supporting The Great Canary. Could they all just be a tad embarrassed by the whole thing. Or is he the only one to have 'mastered' the computer? After all, most of 'em only recently got electricity and headlights on their tractors. Hey you got a loight boy?”
by Smigg68
Friday, February 10 2012, 3:20PM
“if we only get 2400 tickets then the FA should stop Norwich selling the other 1800 tickets to home fans,this way the home fans cant gain from it and Norwich will lose money. We are no great risk as away fans so this can only be to help home fans get tickets. I hope we get a draw in Delia's kitchen and give them a cr4p allocation at the king power, not letting Delia in as you should not enter a sporting arena while intoxicated, it is against the law.”
by Norman09
Friday, February 10 2012, 10:21AM
“GreatCanaries
I see you are taking the flack for your Club. It really is all about Norwich allocating it's fair" share of tickets to your opponents travelling supporters. I might add if we did not love our team so much I would have liked to see a boycott of the game between yourselves and Leicester City. But that is most unlikely. I guess it is a case of if you can't beat us one way you will try to beat us by another.
Your constabulary are talking a lot of tripe, I feel there has been a lot of interference by Norwich FC it' self. Just remember this. What goes around comes around. I am deeply saddened by the clubs attitude towards our travelling fans. It absolutely stinks to say the least.”
by Valefox
Friday, February 10 2012, 9:58AM
“GreatCanaries
At the end of the day you can quote and post what you like, the decision cannot be justified and is wrong, and we all know it. The Nottingham officials and police coped almost 8000 of our travelling fans without any issues at our recent FA cup game with them.”
by GreatCanaries
Friday, February 10 2012, 9:29AM
“Ticket allocations for away supporters at Carrow Road cup ties may be reviewed after Norwich City came under fire from angry Leicester City fans.
Under FA rules, Leicester should have received 15 per cent of seats for the fifth round match on Saturday week, which would have given them about 4,000 tickets.
Instead, their allocation is just 2,400 seats, well below 10 per cent of the ground capacity of just over 27,000.
The decision, made by Norfolk County Council's Safety Advisory Group and confirmed by the FA, was taken on police advice.
But Leicester have made plain their disappointment at the reduced allocation and one fans' spokesman protested: "We feel slighted by this."
"The Football Association took the final decision based on advice it received from the various parties involved."
The Canaries' Customer Charter for 2011-12 supports the right of away fans to attend games.
But it adds: "The club will allocate tickets for matches at Carrow Road in accordance with published ticketing regulations for the applicable competition unless it receives contrary instructions or advice from the POLICE or Norfolk County Council Safety Advisory Group."
A Leicester City spokesman said: "Norwich advised us of their admission prices on Friday evening but, disappointingly, we received notification on Saturday that only 2,400 tickets will be allocated.
"Upon further consultation with the Football Association, it has been confirmed that, despite the exemplary record of our travelling support in recent seasons, the decision was taken on ground safety by Norwich's Safety Advisory Group."
Leicester fans have contacted the Evening News to protest at their allocation, and Lance Tomlyn, of Leicester City's Independent Supporters' Association, urged the club to make fresh representations to Norwich.
"This is their chance for club to do something for the fans," said Tomlyn. "I want to see them get right behind this one."
He added: "We took 8,000 fans to Forest, who are our bitter local rivals and where if there was likely to be any trouble, it would have been there, but it wasn't. There is no credible evidence to say we constitute a risk and we feel slighted by this."
Manchester United complained to the FA Cup last month after their allocation for the third round tie at Manchester City was cut from 7,100 to 5,500 on safety grounds.
Last season's two Championship fixtures between the Canaries and the Foxes passed off peacefully – Paul Lambert's team won both matches”
by Valefox
Friday, February 10 2012, 8:29AM
“Hey, harborored
I see a florist fan has come out of hibernation to resurrect that old rivalry chestnut again; yawn, you must be bored with your own forum, not much to talk about life in the relegation zone.”
by Rob_1
Friday, February 10 2012, 7:53AM
“Parking would be a problem at Carrow Rd after all where would the cars / coaches park if they gave us 4000 tickets, there wouldn't be any room with all the locals filling the carpark with their tractors.”