Manchester City have sparked outrage with their choice of venue for their FA Youth Cup final against Manchester United on Thursday, May 14.
The Citizens have been imperious in their run to the final, beating Fulham, Chelsea, Arsenal, Everton and Blackburn Rovers with considerable ease. City are looking to win the competition for the fifth time, having reigned supreme in 1986, 2008, 2020, 2024.
United haven't found things as plain sailing as their fierce rivals. Nevertheless, they managed to progress to the final with a hard-fought 2-1 after extra-time victory over Crystal Palace.
The Red Devils are the most successful side in the competition's history and will be looking to win it for the 12th time. They last won it in 2022, with Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho starring.
City Spark Outrage With FA Cup Final Venue Decision
Manchester City corner flag
City, who boast one of the best acadamies in the world, have been drawn as the home side for the fixture and will decide where the match will be played.
The match will not be played at the Etihad Stadium. They have said that the match cannot be hosted at the home of their first team due to scheduling constraints, arguing they need to complete construction work on their north stand.
United offered the match to be played at Old Trafford, but City rejected the proposal. Instead, they have decided to host the match at their 7,000-capacity Joie Stadium.
United supporters have been allocated just 968 tickets for the game, which has sparked more criticism. The Manchester United Supporters Trust and Manchester United Fans' Forum have now issued a joint statement condemning the venue choice and urging the FA to act. It said:
"The news that the FA Youth Cup final, a great fixture which has heralded so many superstars of the future, is to be played in a stadium of just 6,000 people is a disgrace.
"Last time United were in the final, we had 67,000 fans in Old Trafford, so allowing this massive game to be played in front of such a paltry few fans is letting down supporters and denying these young footballers the biggest night of their careers so far.
"The FA needs to step in and ensure the game can be played at either the Etihad or Old Trafford. Time to put fans first for once."
Man Utd Youngster's Father Calls Out Man City
Old Trafford
Old Trafford
Man Utd youngster JJ Gabriel is set to compete in the final despite being just 15 years old. His father took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to condemn City's venue decision.
In posts now deleted on X, Gabriel’s father wrote, per the Telegraph: “A lot of people won’t understand how special it is for all these kids to get to a final of [the] FA youth cup, this can be for most players the biggest occasion of their lives and not to play at a main stadium is ludicrous. I don’t blame City, I blame the FA for allowing it to happen.
“JJ went to the final last time they won at Old Trafford when he was 10 or 11 years old….he said to me: 'Daddy, I want to play in a final like this with a huge crowd, it’s so much fun'.”