Source:THFC TRUST

Here is a statement from Trust Chairman, Daniel Wynne regarding the allocation issue between Spurs and Arsenal over our forthcoming Carling Cup semi-final.

Daniel was interviewed on BBC Radio London last night, and this is a summary of the points he made, and which are being addressed by the Spurs Supporters Trust.

There are enough low points following our football team up and down the country, so it is only natural to expect supporters to be able to enjoy the big occasions such as cup semi finals and finals.

As soon as Tottenham overcame Southend in the Carling Cup and learnt that our potential opponents would be Arsenal if they overcame Liverpool, the Tottenham Hotspur Supporters' Trust ("the Trust") contacted THFC ("the Club") to ensure that they would do everything they could to ensure as many Spurs fans as possible would be able to go to the away leg.

The rules of the competition state that the clubs need to agree on two things, 1) ticket allocation and 2) pricing with the away side able to claim up to 15% of the tickets. In real terms that means Spurs were able to claim 9,000 tickets at Arsenal's new ground.

Pricing has not been an issue for us.
As the Liverpool v Arsenal game was originally postponed, the official Spurs website invited supporters to apply for away tickets for the away leg of the semi final without knowing who we will be playing. Despite the uncertainty of supporters having to decide whether they will have to travel either three and a half hours to Anfield or 10 minutes up the road to the Emirates Stadium, applications flooded in to the ticket office, such was the high level of interest in this game.

The website also announced that Arsenal had indicated they would claim the full 15% allocation for the first leg at White Hart Lane (“WHL”), which would mean many season ticket holders having to be moved from their usual seats in the South Stand, as happened in the previous round against Southend.

Once it was known that we would be facing Arsenal, the Trust once again contacted the Club reminding them of supporters' expectation. We then eagerly awaited final details of the away game, particularly our allocation. As the days passed, it was evident something was not as it should be.

Trust Chairman Daniel Wynne explains. "Knowing Arsenal have their brand new, 60,000 stadium, the expectation amongst supporters was to receive the appropriate number of tickets in accordance with the rules of the competition. It became apparent, however, that not only did Arsenal want to give us far less, but they wanted to receive a higher percentage at WHL than they were prepared to give us. As far as we are concerned, at the very least we should have a reciprocal percentage of tickets".

The problems don't end there. Daniel continues, "We understand that the powers that be at Arsenal did not want to give us 9,000 tickets as a result of segregation fears. As it is a new stadium they have not yet had a game where the away fans have received 15% of the tickets and they refused to allow a game against Tottenham to be the test case.

They would have to open up the upper tier where we understand supporters are able to walk all the way round the concourse. This is simply ludicrous and totally unacceptable. We are talking about a brand new, purpose built stadium. The rules of the competitions Arsenal take part in have not changed and have been known to them for many years. The stadium should not have been passed fit to stage major domestic football matches without the knowledge that they would be able to accommodate up to 9,000 away fans safely, whether they be from Tottenham, Chelsea, Manchester United or Southend. We are in January now and this should not have been allowed to get to this stage.

Tottenham had the rule book thrown at us on the last day of last season when Arsenal did not want our game at West Ham to be delayed even though most of our squad were not fit to play due to illness, yet the football authorities appear to not wish to enforce the rules of this competition. There is a huge inconsistency here and rules should be enforced when they need to be. We believe Spurs are doing the right thing to get the best deal possible for Spurs supporters hence why they have not buckled and taken the matter to arbitration."

The Trust has written to both the Football League and to Carling (as sponsors) to express our concerns.

The Trust hopes that common sense will prevail, and that a reciprocal percentage is awarded to both clubs so that supporters are able to enjoy a major domestic cup semi final. <o></o>