Man City supporters groups urge fans to stay away from stands until 9th minute vs Leicester

Man City supporters groups urge their fellow fans to stay away from the stands until the 9th minute vs Leicester next week.

This is in protest against the club’s latest partnership with a secondary ticket agency. Supporters’ groups are upset with the club’s links with Viagogo, which they say is the, ninth agreement of its kind and fear standard tickets could be sold at inflated prices.

So as a result, City’s supporters’ groups, 1984, Trade Union Blues, and MCFC fans food bank have urged fellow fans to stay on the concourse for the first nine minutes and to not take their seat. They’re also planning a food merchandise boycott for that game as well.

They want to show the club that, football without fans is nothing.

The club will hold a meeting of the fan advisory board the day after the Leicester game in response to previous concerns from fan groups over ticket pricing.

Viagogo added as official touting partner, no price freeze on STs, long-standing and loyal fans consistently overlooked. It’s time to take action.

Please support this no-show for the first 9 minutes against Leicester.

Proud to back this alongside @WeAre1894 and @MCFCfoodbank pic.twitter.com/ljD22PlzwJ

— Trade Union Blues (@tradeunionblues) March 28, 2025

Our Secretary speaking to BBC Radio Manchester earlier tonight about Viagogo, City’s lack of engagement and how fans are routinely exploited by the clubs they have shown nothing but loyalty to.

Wednesday night: stay on the concourse for the first 9 minutes #ViaNoShow pic.twitter.com/Jgc4L8NHki

— Trade Union Blues (@tradeunionblues) March 28, 2025

PROTEST STATEMENT:

“We are deeply concerned that the Club have chosen to partner with the secondary ticket agency Viagogo who are known for regularly breaching ticketing regulations and ripping off fans.

“They have been cited as repeatedly breaking laws and been under extensive investigation by the Competitions and Markets Authority, also owning Stubhub who are well-known for selling unauthorised tickets to Premier League fixtures: legalised touting.

“What feels most upsetting to us as City fans, is this is now the ninth official third-party ticketing partner our club has taken on board, adding to the pre-existing eight we already have. A number that was already described as “unusual” by leading football finance expert Kieran Maguire just last week.

“This comes in a season where we’ve seen record numbers of away fans in home and away ends, many of which who have used third-party agencies to obtain tickets at inflated prices. This has caused safety issues, and distrust amongst supporters who are unwilling to use the club’s Ticket Exchange in fears of where their ticket will end up – yet another ticket partner may only add to this.

“We are inviting fans to not take their seats and stay on the concourse for the first 9 minutes of the match v Leicester. 9 minutes for the 9 official third-party ticketing partners the club now has. We ask that if you are going to take your seat, you remain silent for the first 9 minutes. This is to demonstrate that football without fans is nothing.

“We are not telling anyone what to do – but we are politely asking you to consider collective action as a way of making a point to the club. Even if a few thousand were to join in, that would give fans the chance to flex their muscles and remind the club that we have a voice.

“The club remains yet to respond to the open letter we signed with six other City supporter groups on ticket pricing 7 weeks ago, and after 6 weeks of delays have only today set a date (3rd April) for a special meeting with our Fan Advisory Board, City Matters, on unaffordable ticket prices.

“This makes Leicester at home City supporters’ last chance before that meeting to make their feelings known in the ground. Other clubs across the Premier League have held meaningful engagement with their Fan Advisory Boards on ticketing throughout the season, leading to price freezes. Unfortunately ours has not.

“1894 members have also indicated the wish to hold a food/merchandise boycott vs Leicester. In the event of further disappointing news, we will have to keep our options open with regards to future action. For example, withdrawing from cup schemes (League Cup initially), and further stadium food/merchandise boycotts are options we could recommend to supporters.

“Whatever each Blue decides to do, let’s all respect that persons’ wishes to do as they wish – as we did with the Community Shield Boycott in 2023.

“The executives may hold the paperwork, but the club will always belong to the fans.”

Twitter users reacted as Man City supporters groups urge fans to stay away from the stands until the 9th minute vs Leicester…

@Liam____21: Fair play. Hope this gets a good backing.

@Roachey_02: worth a go tbh👍 its bad enough the club aren’t listening to the fans/making an effort to listen to our views – but it’s a proper kick in the teeth partnering with ANOTHER ticket touting site, especially the timing of it. becoming more like everything we hated, defo needs to stop

@GillyClarke25: Can we make it 90 minutes in the concourse instead? Up The Concourse Blooz.

@Valbenn1: Absolutely!! 🩵

@davelee0707: I’ve not seen the first 9 minutes of a game since the 80s. At the bar for the last 10 of the first half and back in me seat on about 55 minutes. I do stay to the end though, unlike most!

@Dannynn__: Collective action is power lads, a stand has to be made

@joeb072: Hope people go through with this 👍👍

@PrestwichBlue: Fully support this.

@ChrisNev1985: I’ll be taking part in this on Wednesday. Let’s make it big! #ViaNoShow

@Valbenn1: Will definitely do this 🩵 but still think we need to do more. I would hate it but would feel better boycotting the whole match still by being in the concourse or even outside. the club needs to see how it’s affecting us not sure they’ll take any notice for 9 minutes #CTID

@OllyMillett: Decent idea. Not long enough imo and people won’t join in, shame not a bad idea

@Aruldddd: Hope everyone takes this seriously and takes part in it. It’s only 9 minutes. Leicester will probably be 1-0 up by then anyway. Those 9 minutes are far more important than seeing Bernardo do four hundred 360s in the centre circle.

@EliteRko: Something has to be done. What’s going on around the club absolutely stinks. Stupid prices. Tourists spending half their time taking photos. So many people that don’t live and breathe nor would die for this club. For real fans it’s a way of life. Things have to change!

@M_Lawlor_90: Unfortunate it’s come to this really, considering the journey and where we’ve come from as a club and fan base. But enough is enough now, the club have taken the piss for long enough.