Author: Mike Baker
It’s the news!
JAM LIVE!
Just pure evil
Manchester United will charge Sevilla fans £89 to attend the Champions League last-16 tie at Old Trafford on 13 March in response to the Spanish club’s “unfair and excessive” ticket pricing.
United say they will use the proceeds to subsidise fans attending the first leg in Spain on 21 February.
The La Liga side are asking for £35 more than they took from Liverpool fans in the group stages in November.
Sevilla are not breaching Uefa rules and are charging their own fans more.
United said they had taken the decision as “a deterrent to future opponents who look to increase ticket prices for our travelling supporters”.
United fans will be refunded £35 before their trip to the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium, with any additional money donated to the Manchester United Foundation.
In response to complaints from ticket holders, United outlined their stance in a letter, which was issued on Wednesday.
It read: “In this instance we believe that our travelling supporters are unfairly being subjected to increased/excessive ticket prices from the host club.
“Ultimately Sevilla have not agreed to significantly lower the price to what we view as a reasonable level.
“Therefore, we have taken the difficult decision to charge Sevilla fans the same amount as our fans have been charged for the away fixture.”
In response, Sevilla said they will subsidise their fans for the price increase and will “be in contact with Uefa” over the matter.
“Sevilla will also look to guarantee that no Sevillista pays a penny more than any Manchester United fan for similar tickets – as competition regulations dictate,” the Spanish club said.
Jewelled pasties stolen
Police say they have removed a crime scene guard from Truro city centre after an armed robbery at a jeweller.
Men wearing balaclavas carried out the raid at Michael Spiers Jewellers just before 10:00.
Police said a noxious substance was used in the raid and a handgun was found on the ground. A member of the public was believed to have been injured in the incident but his injuries were described as minor.
Insp Rick Milburn, of Devon and Cornwall Police, said the city centre was “slowly returning to normal”.
He also thanked the witnesses present during the incident, but appealed for any other members of the public who witnessed anything to contact police.
He said: “Even the smallest detail may help and could make a difference to this investigation.”
One man, one cup
A charity in Bude that promotes cleaner seas says it is “thrilled to bits” the environment minister was pictured carrying the reusable cup it sent him into an important meeting.
The Cleaner Seas Project sent Michael Gove the turquoise cup after seeing him using a non-recyclable one before Christmas.
He was pictured carrying his new cup into 10 Downing Street yesterday, and then had it on the table in front of him for a picture of a cabinet meeting.
Avril Sainsbury, from the group, said: “It’s a learning curve for everybody and we thought it would be a lovely gesture to send him a pack for Christmas.
“It’s great to see somebody at the top really taking notice.”
She continued: “It’s come back to grassroots – the groups and organisations on the battle ground, not just in Bude, but nationwide and globally – which is really nice.”