ManU is facing a "repair bill running into thousands of pounds" because of alleged misbehavior by supporters that has had a "knock-on effect for the security arrangements" surrounding the FA Cup tie at Shrewsbury Town on Monday. ManU will be asked to compensate Derby County after a "significant number of seats were damaged in the away end when the teams met in the FA Cup fourth-round." Derby claimed that more than 300 seats "were broken or in some cases pulled off whole." That, in turn, is one of the principal reasons why Shrewsbury has "abandoned plans to increase the 9,875 capacity at New Meadow with temporary seating" when it hosts ManU for a place in the quarterfinals (London GUARDIAN, 2/16). ... Relegation-threatened EPL club Sunderland has "announced reductions" to its season ticket prices for the '16-17 campaign. Sunderland is the second EPL club to take the step after West Ham "did so as a result of the record television rights deal." Adult season tickets at the Stadium of Light will start at £350 ($500), down by £20 ($29), and would compare favorably "even if they were relegated to the Championship," where Hull's cheapest season ticket is £531 ($759) (BBC, 2/16).
