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Arsenal have introduced strict measures to ensure tickets for their highly anticipated Champions League quarter-final clash against Real Madrid do not fall into the wrong hands.
The Gunners will host defending champions at the Emirates Stadium on April 8 in the first leg of their last-eight tie. With demand for tickets at an all-time high, the club has put a ballot system and purchase embargo in place to ensure that seats in the home section are reserved for “genuine Arsenal supporters.”
In a statement on Thursday, Arsenal explained the new ticketing regulations: “This means that fans who purchase an Arsenal membership after Monday, March 3, 2025, will not be permitted to purchase tickets for this game.
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“Anyone who enters a ballot for this match with a membership that is purchased after the embargo date, whether as an individual or as a group, will have their whole ballot application invalidated.
“We have made this decision following consultation with the relevant authorities to ensure we are in line with crowd segregation requirements.
“Please note that any visiting supporters who purchase a ticket in the home end for this fixture will be ejected from the stadium.
“To ensure fairness and equal opportunity, tickets for home fixtures will be sold via a ballot system, exclusively for Arsenal members (embargo rules apply).”
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The ballot for tickets will run from March 17 to March 20, with prices ranging from £74.30 to £141.
Arsenal have intensified their fight against ticket touting, revealing they have cancelled over 26,000 accounts this season that attempted to obtain tickets through unauthorised methods.
With demand for Emirates Stadium tickets soaring, the club views ticket fraud as a serious issue. Their anti-touting operation includes specialist third-party operatives on the ground, regular seat checks, and ticket collection requirements for both home and away matches.
The ballot system also plays a key role in identifying illegal ticket activity. Arsenal have already removed 7,583 individual entries from the ballot due to suspicious behaviour, while 26,156 accounts have been deactivated for attempting to buy tickets through unauthorised channels.
By implementing these measures, Arsenal aim to ensure a fair distribution of tickets and maintain a secure environment for their supporters ahead of their crucial clash with Real Madrid.
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