Manchester City's leadership group have announced that they'll refund supporters who travelled to Norway for their shock 3-1 loss to Bodo/Glimt in the Champions League
Manchester City's players greet their fans after the UEFA Champions League, league Phase - day 7 football match between Bodoe/Glimt and Manchester City in Bodoe, Norway on January 20, 2026. (Photo by Mats Torbergsen / NTB / AFP via Getty Images) / Norway OUT
Manchester City's players will refund the cost of tickets(Image: Mats Torbergsen/NTB/AFP via Getty Images)
View 2 Images
Manchester City's stars need to give their heads a serious wobble. A group of them, led by the squad captains, have decided to refund those supporters who travelled to the Arctic Circle to see Pep Guardiola's side lose to Norwegian minnows Bodo/Glimt.
The gesture will cost the players just short of £10,000. But the amount is irrelevant, not leats because most of those sticking their hands in their cavernous pockets have earned this amount before getting out of bed.
What is relevant here is the principle. The president it sets. For starters, such a decision shows the height of disrespect to Bodo/Glimt. The ultimate in woke nonsense.
The equivalent of the English giants saying, 'We should never lose to this team, because they are not as good as us.' Then losing to the better team fair and square.
But we'll give you your money back, because it was a difficult place to get to, the weather was freezing and the beer was expensive. How patronising is that?
You could put it down to a combination of embarrassment and brain freeze. What would clubs do in the future if supporters only agreed to pay the cost of a ticket after a game if their team had won?
If this became the norm, the likes of West Ham and Wolves would go bankrupt. Did Crystal Palace offer a refund to those poor souls who made the trip to Macclesfield to witness the holders suffer the biggest FA Cup shock of all time? No.
It took Palace 125 years to win the biggest domestic club competition of all - and one day to lose it again. But it didn't justify travelling fans getting their money back.
BODO, NORWAY - JANUARY 20: Players of Manchester City applaud the fans after the team's defeat in the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD7 match between FK Bodo/Glimt and Manchester City at Aspmyra Stadion on January 20, 2026 in Bodo, Norway. (Photo by Michael Regan - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
Nearly 400 Manchester City fans will be refunded(Image: Michael Regan - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
View 2 Images
Perhaps Palace took the view that supporters buy a ticket and take their chances. Perhaps they thought football is a competition after all. Teams win and teams lose.
Should Liverpool have refunded those supporters who travelled to Wembley to see the English giants lose the FA Cup final to Wimbledon in 1988? Do me a favour.
Those hardy souls who went to the back of beyond this week to watch Guardiola's team, did so because they wanted to support their team. They also went there with the understanding City could lose.
Highs and lows come with the price of being a football fan. It's called sport. This gesture is bourn out of kindness. It is nothing more than a public relations stunt aimed at salvaging something positive from a game Guardiola and his flops will never be allowed to forget.