Arsenal have been handed a suspended £500,000 fine after the FA ruled they breached competition regulations in January’s FA Cup meeting with Manchester United.

The charge stemmed from a ticket allocation dispute before the game, with United claiming they were denied their full entitlement of away tickets under FA Cup rules.

FA regulations state that visiting clubs must receive up to 15 percent of a stadium’s capacity for FA Cup matches more generous than the Premier League’s standard allocation.

United were given 8,000 tickets for the tie at the Emirates Stadium, around 1,000 fewer than the maximum they could have received. Arsenal argued that safety restrictions made it impossible to allocate more.

The club cited guidance from the local Safety Advisory Group, which ruled that the Emirates’ upper tier could not safely host away supporters due to issues with persistent standing.

After a nine-month review, the FA’s Professional Game Board concluded that Arsenal failed to comply with Rule 192 of the 2024–25 FA Cup regulations.

“The PGB has imposed a suspended fine of £500,000, pending Arsenal’s confirmation that it can meet the requirement in the 2025–26 FA Cup and in future rounds,” an FA statement read.

On the pitch, United had the last laugh in that tie, winning 5-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in extra time before later falling to Fulham in the fifth round.

The two sides have since met twice more  drawing 1-1 at Old Trafford in March and with Arsenal claiming a 1-0 win on the opening day of the new season continuing one of English football’s fiercest rivalries.