With no trains back to Manchester and a 400-mile round trip on a Friday night, Omar Berrada and Michael Carrick’s side take a stand for away supporters.
Manchester United have hit back at the Premier League’s “ludicrous” scheduling by announcing a major compensation gesture for traveling fans. After the upcoming away fixture against Bournemouth was controversially moved to Friday, March 20th (8 PM KO), the club has confirmed they will provide free coach travel for all ticket holders.
The decision from the Premier League has sparked fury among the United faithful. As the furthest away trip of the campaign, there are zero public transport options to return to Manchester after the final whistle. Fans would be forced to pay for hotels or endure expensive, mid-week train fares just to follow Michael Carrick’s men south.
Berrada Takes the Fight to Richard Masters
This isn’t just a travel issue; it’s a diplomatic one. United CEO Omar Berrada has reportedly held crunch talks with Premier League Chief Richard Masters to express “grave concerns” over the constant rescheduling of United’s games.
Between February 9th and April 10th, the Red Devils will play on a traditional Saturday or Sunday just twice in eight weeks. Berrada is calling for broadcast decisions to be finalized much earlier, citing the “unfair financial burden” placed on match-going supporters.
How to Claim Free Travel
The initiative, led by Director of Fan Engagement Rick McGagh, will save fans approximately £50 per head in coach costs.
- Allocation: 1,299 away tickets.
- Booking: Supporters with a valid match ticket will receive an email with instructions on how to secure their free seat.
- Context: In the reverse fixture, Bournemouth fans were forced to return half their allocation due to a similar Monday night move. United, however, expect a full sell-out despite the travel chaos.
With United out of domestic cup competitions, the focus is entirely on the league—but the Premier League’s TV picks are making that journey harder than ever for the “Red Army.”
Ronald Mike is a football writer covering the English Premier League, providing match analysis, tactical insight, and coverage of key rivalries and title races across the season.
