[goldenHuddlestone]

Manchester United fans are furious after being told they will outnumber Watford supporters at the FA Cup semi-final - but only thanks to Old Trafford's Prawn Sandwich Brigade.

United's official ticket allocation for Villa Park is just 17,600, 200 fewer than Watford whose average home crowd this season is only 17,200 - not even a quarter of Old Trafford's normal attendance.

The bizarre division of tickets for the April 14 tie at Villa Park, which holds 42,500, was influenced by Villa's safety advice that United's share be reduced because their fans 'persistently' refuse to sit down.

But an FA spokesman fuelled the row by insisting: "We have to divide the stadium somehow. If you incorporate the hospitality areas, there will actually be more Manchester United fans inside the ground."

Fans who claim Arsenal should be hosting the match are outraged at the FA's spin over well-heeled supporters who were dubbed the Prawn Sandwich Brigade by former United captain Roy Keane.

Mark Longden, of the Independent Manchester United Supporters' Association, said: "The share out is outrageous. I have emailed FA customer relations on behalf of IMUSA but I'm still waiting for a reply. Roy Keane was right. Sales of prawn sandwiches will probably go through the roof, but a lot of ordinary United season ticket holders are going to be desperately disappointed at missing out. What are they saying to the rest of us? Buy yourself an expensive hospitality package at Villa Park? A lot of fans struggle to pay the price of an ordinary seat as it is. The amount of fans we have who can afford an executive box is irrelevant to those who can't get in. Everyone wants to go to this semi-final."

[aisuru]

i wish the whinging ****s would shut up. they obviously think they're special somehow, and deserve to get the vast majority of a ticket allocation just because they're Man Utd? they really should get a grip.

[Matt the Thrasher]

I think semi final ticket allocation should be 50-50 for the 2 teams involved , the big clubs have everything in their favour as it is.

[toonmagic9]

fair point but the way england are going through managers the fa need as much money as possible for compensation, but on another point well done watford and ady boothroyd for keeping the magic of the fa cup alive

[ge0rge]

Originally Posted by Matt the Thrasher

I think semi final ticket allocation should be 50-50 for the 2 teams involved , the big clubs have everything in their favour as it is.

i agree i think that it should be perfectly equal. i also find this a bit strange because i would of thought if any team would of got more allocations it would be man u's because they have the larger fan base

[goldenHuddlestone]

Originally Posted by toonmagic9

fair point but the way england are going through managers the fa need as much money as possible for compensation, but on another point well done watford and ady boothroyd for keeping the magic of the fa cup alive

At least they take something away from this season