Man City fans dubbed ‘troublemakers’ as FIFA Club World Cup issues supporter ban

Manchester City fans could face a potential ban from attending the FIFA Club World Cup tournament this summer. The reigning Premier League champions qualified for the expanded 32-team competition after lifting the 2022-23 UEFA Champions League trophy.

City, who also won the FIFA Club World Cup back in 2023, have been placed in Group G alongside Wydad, Al Ain, and Juventus. While the competition gives the EPL side a chance to win silverware, on the back of a mixed season, bad news could be on the horizon for the travelling Cityzens.

Reports from The Sun indicate about 150 fans from Man City and Chelsea have been denied permission to travel to attend the competition by US authorities. Supporters who have been given Football Banning Orders by UK courts will receive a letter ordering them to surrender their passports  before competition starts.

Those fans involved will have to submit their travel documents to the police for five weeks while the Club World Cup is ongoing, as per regulations.

What did the authorities say about the ban

British Policing Minister Dame Diane Johnson addressed the ban and confirmed it comes as a 'preventative measure' to address 'troublemakers.'

"Many Manchester City and Chelsea fans will want to travel to support their teams in this summer's tournament and we want them all to do so safely and enjoyably. But for the tiny minority of troublemakers who use football as an excuse for criminality, we will be applying the same proven preventative measures that we have successfully done for other overseas tournaments,” she said.

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A similar measure was also implemented for UEFA Euro 2024 to prevent trouble and ensure public safety during the competition. The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup will commence from June 14 and continue till July 13.

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