Manchester United fans must buy Cambridge ticket or miss Sunderland

• 9,000 season-ticket holders sent letter telling them to buy FA Cup replay ticket
• Sanction rule requiring purchase of cup tickets in place for a number of years

Manchester United have warned about 9,000 season-ticket holders that a seat for next week’s FA Cup replay against Cambridge United needed to be bought by 8pm on Wednesday or they would not be allowed to attend the home match with Sunderland on 28 February.

The letter sent to season-ticket holders and seen by the Guardian states: “The deadline to buy your seat for Cambridge United is 8pm tonight. Please note that not buying this ticket will result in your Season Ticket being suspended for the Sunderland game.”

While that meeting with Gus Poyet’s side is a month away, one supporter, who wanted to remain anonymous, claimed United’s policy, which is in the club’s regulations, is causing widespread disgruntlement as some cannot attend next Tuesday’s fourth-round tie with Cambridge due to work and other commitments.

“They are threatening the Sunderland game,” the supporter said. “I – like many others – cannot attend the replay at such short notice, due to work commitments.”

A United spokesperson pointed out that the system had been in place for a number of years and said: “We did notify fans that failure to pay for a game in the cup scheme would mean a suspension from the next game. We have consistently done this throughout this season.

“The terms and conditions are clear: ‘In respect of each home cup match for which the ticket holder fails to provide valid payment card details or for which the ticket holder’s card or payment is declined, the ticket holder’s season ticket may be suspended for one home league match. This measure was introduced [two seasons ago].

“If we successfully sell the ticket the fan has failed to pay for, they can apply for a refund of the Sunderland ticket at the end of the season.”

All of the 55,000 season-ticket holders are obliged to buy tickets for FA Cup and Champions League games – Capital One Cup matches can be opted out from, as can the FA Cup for those under 16 – with the payment for these automatically debited from members’ accounts when required.

The fan stated that no money had been left in the bank account used to pay United purposely. “I leave the card that MUFC have on record without a balance as I want to be in control – as best I can – when payments are debited,” said the supporter.

When trying to contact United’s ticket office on Wednesday afternoon, callers could wait for more than 35 minutes and still not be put through, which may have been due to season-ticket holders trying to buy seats for the Cambridge tie.

It was claimed that at least 9,000 were being chased. “I just called the club to vent and the adviser said 9,000 fans are in this situation,” added the fan. “I told them that’s a pretty high percentage of total holders and shows the system doesn’t work – for anyone other than the club.”

Supporters are allowed to give away tickets for the Cambridge match as long as they can vouch for the recipient, as they are responsible for the behaviour of that person when attending.