Man City fans blocked from leaving early during Champions League defeat against Juventus

By Hoang An December 11, 2024 | 11:46 pm PT

Manchester City fans are stopped by stadium security during a game. Photo by X/@ManUnitedMedia

Many Manchester City fans attempted to leave early during the Champions League loss against Juventus after the hosts doubled their lead, but were stopped by stadium security and forced to sit through the whole match Wednesday night.

The incident occurred after Juventus midfielder Weston McKennie scored a stunning volley in the 75th minute, making it 2-0 for the hosts. The Allianz Stadium erupted in celebration, while many City fans began heading for the exits. However, stadium officials instructed them to stay in their seats, with an announcement over the loudspeaker informing away supporters that they were not allowed to leave until the match ended.

This policy is common in European football, particularly in Serie A and the Champions League, where away fans are required to remain in the stadium 30 minutes after the final whistle to avoid potential clashes with home supporters. In some games, the match organizers allowed away fans to leave before the 90th-minute mark.

ESPN reporter Mark Ogden posted the incident on social media and the news quickly gained attention, with thousands of shares.

"Man City have fans?" an account jokingly wrote on X, while another commented: "This is the most hilarious news I've seen recently."

Despite City’s efforts, the game ended 2-0 in favor of Juventus, marking their 7th loss in the last 10 matches. Their only victory in this run came in a 3-0 win against Nottingham Forest in the Premier League.

With eight points from six matches, Man City have fallen to 22nd place in the Champions League standings. Once in a position to qualify directly for the knockout stage, the recent poor form has put Pep Guardiola’s side at risk of elimination from the group stage. City will need to secure strong results in their final two fixtures, against PSG in Paris on Jan. 22, 2025, and Club Brugge at home seven days later.

Before that, City will face Manchester United in the Premier League on Sunday. United defeated City in the 2024 FA Cup final but lost on penalties in the Community Shield. Guardiola's men have won seven of the last nine Manchester derbies, but their current form could give United a chance, under the new coach Ruben Amorim.