Post by Salem6 on Sept 27, 2005 14:38:57 GMT
By Matt Gatward
Published: 26 September 2005
sport.independent.co.uk/football/coca_cola/article315108.ece
Sir Alex Ferguson, the Manchester United manager, has
called for a ceiling on admission prices for matches,
while Arsène Wenger, his Arsenal counterpart, believes
free-scoring sides should be rewarded with extra
points as a way of attracting more fans to grounds.
Ferguson was quick to criticise his London rivals, and
Chelsea in particular, for increasing prices when
leading clubs visit. The Scot called on the Office of
Fair Trading to act after hearing entry to Stamford
Bridge can cost £85. "There should be a ceiling on
ticket prices," Ferguson said. "Ever since I have come
to England, I have never understood how teams in
London are able to increase their ticket prices
depending on who they are playing.
"That has been allowed to go on for 25 years. When
United play Chelsea, I have heard it can cost £85 for
some parts of Stamford Bridge. That should not be
allowed. Why haven't the Office of Fair Trading done
something about it? If a grocer puts his pound of
sugar up a penny more than the guy next door he'll
probably get fined £3,000 or closed down."
There were fears admission prices at Old Trafford
would increase following the takeover by the American
Malcolm Glazer but Ferguson said: "Our prices have
been probably averaging below the normal. The North
West has always been cheaper."
With attendances falling and too many teams putting
survival ahead of entertainment, Wenger believes an
extra point for teams who win by three or more goals
would lead to more attacking football.
"What could work is awarding points on the basis of
the difference between the goals you score and the
goals you concede," Wenger said. "You could get an
extra point if there is a difference of three, like
3-0 or 5-2. That might encourage teams to keep on
attacking when they have the lead. There would be an
incentive. The intention should always be to win. The
most successful teams have always been attacking.
Brazil have won more World Cups than anyone and Real
Madrid more European trophies - both of them always
play to win."
The Arsenal vice-chairman, David Dein, is "quietly
confident" Thierry Henry will see out his career at
the club. "We will be entering into negotiations very
shortly," Dein said. "We will do everything we can to
make sure he stays here until the end of his career."