At the end of August, the famous Wembley Community Shield (English Super Cup) will take place between Manchester City and Arsenal, but it seems that some City fans may boycott the event. Supporters of this year’s Premier League and Champions League winners are unhappy that the match is scheduled at an inconvenient time and is being held at the London stadium.
Manchester City has had a successful season, winning both the Premier League and the Champions League, and they are now eyeing another trophy. On August 6th, they will compete for the Community Shield, which is traditionally played between the winners of the Premier League and the FA Cup. As City won both titles, their opponent will be Arsenal, who finished second in the league.
The match will be held at Wembley Stadium in London and is scheduled for Sunday at 17:30, a time that doesn’t sit well with City fans. One fan group has even called on fellow supporters to boycott the game due to the location and timing. The group 1894 stated on their Instagram, „The 17:30 kick-off time presents significant travel problems for fans from Manchester and makes it difficult for many loyal supporters to attend. It is time for fans attending the game to be treated as a priority.“
The group continued, „Through the boycott, we aim to send a strong message to the FA and ITV about the impact of their scheduling on fans. Our collective absence from the stadium will demonstrate our dissatisfaction. We will advocate for fairer game times in the future. We understand the love and dedication to City, but we believe that our collective action will bring about positive change.“
Additionally, the group is encouraging fans who heed the call for a boycott to donate ten pounds (approximately 278 CZK) or the amount they would have spent on a ticket to local charitable organizations.
Manchester City is aiming for their fourth trophy of the season, having already won the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League. This could be their first trophy of the upcoming 2023/2024 season. Last year, Liverpool emerged victorious in the Community Shield.
The Manchester City players made history this year by winning the Champions League for the first time. The upcoming Community Shield match against Arsenal will be another opportunity for City to showcase their dominance in English football. Fans will be eagerly watching to see if City can add another trophy to their impressive collection.