The renewed Copa del Rey introduced by Luís Rubiales made its debut in late 2019 and was an immediate success, convincing most thanks to its dynamic format.
The single-match ties and the fact that the “stronger” team is set to play away has made the competition more exciting and unpredictable than ever.
Yet there’s still a big issue that needs to be properly addressed and has been a motive of debate in recent days since the matches corresponding to the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey were announced.
I’m talking about the ticket allocation for away fans which has been nothing short of ridiculous. For the Wednesday’s match F.C. Barcelona only provided 162 seats for the away stand that represented Real Sociedad. At least they had the decency to price them at 19 euros. Whereas Osasuna offered Sevilla F.C. 609 tickets at 45 euros a piece.
Valencia C.F. gave Athletic Club 508 tickets at a price of 20 euros each for their face off this Thursday. Finally, Real Madrid provided Atlético de Madrid with 334 tickets priced at 70 euros, even though there was a petition from over 4.000 colchoneros.
These are all laughable amounts for stadiums that can fit tens of thousands. If it were a LaLiga game you could maybe (not really) look past this, given the away supporters will have a chance to see the same clash in their own home ground later on in the season. But in a Copa del Rey knockout tie where there won’t be a second leg, it should be compulsory to have a much larger amount of away fans present.
Real Madrid released a statement explaining that their decision is based on the fact that Atleti tend to supply them with the same amount of tickets when they play at the Metropolitano. A very poor argument indeed.
Fortunately visiting fans can find alternative channels to buy tickets, even if it means sitting amongst the home crowd… without representing their team’s colours. At least that’s what originally popped up in Barça’s website when one tried to buy tickets for the clash, indicating fans wearing shirts, scarves, etc. from the opposing club would be denied entry. Although Barça later rectified by saying it only applied to “high risk” matches (Madrid, Espanyol and Atleti), and so la Real sympathisers were seen throughout the Camp Nou.
The same prohibition was associated to los blancos, who denied this in the previously mentioned statement by saying they’ve never vetoed away fans from wearing their team’s shirts at the Bernabéu. But that’s not completely true, given their website does indicate that they can deny access to away supporters not seated in the specific allocated stands (the 334 seats they sold through Atleti). So who are they trying to fool? The only realistic way of distinguishing an Atleti fan is if he’s wearing his clubs’ shirt.
One way or another, the fans are the ones being wronged. Again. The RFEF should have stepped in by now to guarantee there’s a minimum amount of away fans allowed to support their team in a crucial knockout match. It’s unthinkable that something so basic hasn’t been regulated. Even UEFA guarantees that at least 5% of the stadium is at the disposal of those travelling abroad to watch their club.
Let’s hope Rubiales can keep improving the Copa del Rey, as he once did, to ensure that the (away) fans are heard and rewarded for their passionate dedication towards their clubs.
Really poor stuff by the authorities here. I think the minimum away allocation in the FA Cup is 15%. Probably doesn’t need to be that high in Spain where there is less of an away travel culture but still, there ought to be *some* decent minimum.