Arsenal violated FA Cup regulations with a controversial and “classless” move ahead of their match against Manchester United.

Arsenal faced criticism for a rule-breaking decision during their FA Cup third-round clash with Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium. Both teams avoided wearing their traditional red kits in support of Arsenal’s ‘No More Red’ campaign.

However, fans watching on the BBC noticed a large section of empty seats in the upper tier, despite the match being a high-profile fixture expected to sell out. The unoccupied seats were due to a decision that limited United’s away allocation to 8,000 tickets instead of the 9,000 permitted under FA Cup rules.

The restriction was reportedly due to “safety concerns” raised by the Safety Advisory Group, which includes club officials, local council representatives, and emergency services. United unsuccessfully appealed for the additional 1,000 tickets and even proposed redistributing them to families, children, emergency service workers, or grassroots football participants. However, logistical challenges prevented this, leaving the seats empty.

Fans expressed their frustration on social media, with one calling the situation “a sad and unnecessary state of affairs” and others labeling Arsenal “classless” for their handling of the i

ssue.