Overview

• The FA’s Professional Game Board ruled Arsenal breached FA Cup Rule 192 during January’s tie with Manchester United.
• Rule 192 grants away clubs up to 15% of a stadium’s capacity, yet United received 8,000 seats rather than the roughly 9,000 implied by that threshold.
• Arsenal and the local Safety Advisory Group cited safety concerns, noting persistent standing in the Emirates upper tier prevents housing away supporters there.
• The £500,000 sanction is suspended pending Arsenal’s formal confirmation of compliance for the 2025–26 third round and maintained compliance in subsequent rounds.
• The verdict concludes a nine-month review of United’s complaint while keeping a compliance condition in force for future ties.