Manchester City fans left angered by move to charge disabled supporters over £200 for Etihad Stadium car parking

Social media has erupted with anger this week following confirmation of Manchester City’s intention to charged disabled supporters £228 per season for car parking.

As confirmed by Manchester City Disabled Supporters Association, the Premier League champions have revealed their intention to begin charging disabled supporters £12 per home match for parking at the Etihad Stadium from the start of the 2025/26 season.

Unsurprisingly, the decision to charge fans that sum from the start of the upcoming 2024/25 season was met was complaints, and as such the move was made to charge disabled supporters £6 per match, and £7 per match if only one person was in the car.

The move comes following disabled parking at the Etihad Stadium originally being free.

However, as part of a statement from Manchester City Disabled Supporters Association, the club claimed that “the only way to increase the number of available blue-badge spaces is for charges to be imposed on all disabled fans”.

The statement insists that the decision was made “without any consultation with the DSA or even with City Matters”, and that the association “were only contacted after the decision had been made” by the Premier League champions.

A full statement on the matter read, “Early in July, we were informed by the club that they intended to introduce a charge of £12 per match for blue-badge parking on the official car-parks, which had previously been provided free-of-charge, on a first-come-first-served basis, with priority given to season ticket holders, with immediate effect for the 2024/25 season.

“Their justification for this was a claim that around 50% of the spaces, which were booked, last season, were left unused, as a result of spaces being booked by fans who then did not turn up. They claimed that the only way to solve this problem is to impose a charge on everyone.

“They also claimed that the only way to increase the number of available blue-badge spaces is for charges to be imposed on all disabled fans. This decision was made without any consultation with the DSA or even with City Matters (our fans’ advisory board). We were only contacted after the decision had been made.”

The statement continued, “We made clear that the DSA committee do not accept their reasoning or their proposed solution to their perceived problem. In particular, we are very concerned that these decisions are being made on the basis of flawed assumptions and without any attempt to consider alternative solutions to the perceived problems.

“We feel that it is wholly inappropriate to hit disabled supporters, many of whom are living on benefits or low incomes, with a sudden increase of £228 in the cost of attending league games, after many have already committed to paying for their season tickets.

“If, as they claim, the only reason for imposing this new charge is to solve a problem with spaces being booked and not used, we have suggested a number of alternative solutions, which should be tried before imposing such measures on to disabled supporters.

“Firstly, as we have already discussed, the booking and cancellation system for parking is not fit for purpose. It has been impossible previously for disabled fans to make late cancellations and has also been extremely difficult to make cancellations at any time, due to the lack of an online option to do so and the constant problems with getting through to the Access Team by phone, particularly in the run-up to home matches.

“The club has had great success in recent seasons in using the ticket exchange to fill up potentially unused match tickets, so should be perfectly capable of finding a system to solve the problem for disabled parking.

“In response to our complaints, the club has acknowledged that there has been a problem with cancellations and have agreed to improve that situation by introducing a new online cancellation system and allowing cancellations up to kick-off time.

“They have also decided to change the charge to £6 (£7 if only 1 person in a car) for the coming 2024/25 season but still £12 for the following season.

“We still feel that this is not acceptable and not appropriate, when they should first get the new cancellation systems in place and properly publicise that those who book and don’t cancel, if unable to attend, could be prevented from making future parking bookings.”

Manchester City supporters on social media have reacted angrily to the decision made by Etihad Stadium officials, and have urged the club for an urgent review and u-turn on the car parking charges issued on disabled fans.

One user, in response to the statement revealed on City Xtra’s X account, exclaimed, “Absolutely shameful. What on earth are we doing,” whilst another user said, “What an utter disgrace. This club is just a soulless money making machine.”

Grim. So very grim

— Ναthan (@CW9_MCFC) August 2, 2024

clubs gone to the dogs, we need to be relegated

— tom (@Tom_1698) August 2, 2024

And people still think the owners care about the club. They only want their money now.

— Mohammed (@mbaalt8) August 2, 2024

Stupid and unfair decision to charge disabled people who comes and watch City games on benefits or low incomes as their life is a proper struggle and it is very tiring.

— Madeleine Leahy (Alty Manc) (@LeahyMadeleine) August 2, 2024

Society as a whole is finished

— Izzy_Mx16♟️ (@IIM9320) August 2, 2024

This just doesn't sit right

— thenosaj40 (@JasonWe69453818) August 2, 2024