Opposition reached a head after champions Manchester City returned 912 unsold tickets priced at £62 ($100) for Sunday’s game at Arsenal, while fans brandished banners reading “Don’t price us out of our game” and “£62 and we’re still here”.

The protest, compounded by claims that fans were threatened with arrest if they did not take down their placards, came after supporters of Manchester United and Liverpool got together last week to express their anger at escalating costs.