FA Sets Up Neutral Zone At Wembley for FA Cup Semi-Final After Wigan Fail to Sell Ticket Allocation

The FA has taken the unprecedented step to open up a neutral zone at Wembley for this weekend’s FA Cup semi-final between Wigan Athletic and Millwall after Wigan were not able to sell their ticket allocation for the match.

Both clubs were allocated 31,000 tickets. Wigan Athletic still have at least 10,000 tickets remaining from their allocation, so The FA has decided to sell a maximum of 6,000 tickets from Wigan’s section and to open up the area to neutral supporters.

Wigan has an average home attendance at the DW Stadium of 18,000, which also takes into consideration the away support. The club’s inability to sell its complete allocation of 31,000 tickets is probably due to a few different reasons: 1) The club’s fanbase isn’t that large, 2) the north-west of England is typically a more depressed economic area of the country, and 3) many Wigan supporters may be saving up their money hoping that the Latics will play in the FA Cup final against Manchester City or Chelsea.

Wigan against Millwall will be televised live in the United States this Saturday at 12:15pm ET on FOX Soccer Plus and FOX Soccer 2Go.