A Manchester City fan group has called on supporters of the club to boycott the Community Shield over the late Sunday kick-off time.

LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 03: Ilkay Guendogan of Manchester City celebrates with the FA Cup Trophy after the team's victory during the Emirates FA Cup Final between Manchester City and Manchester United at Wembley Stadium on June 03, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND: Ilkay Guendogan of Manchester City celebrates with the FA Cup Trophy after the team’s victory during the Emirates FA Cup Final between Manchester City and Manchester United at Wembley Stadium on June 03, 2023. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

Earlier this week, the date and time of the Community Shield were confirmed, with Arsenal set to face Manchester City on Sunday, August 6th at 17:30 BST at Wembley Stadium.

In light of that decision, Manchester City fan group WeAre1894 have called for supporters of the club to boycott the match.

“Dear Manchester City fans, 1894 urge you to join us in boycotting the Community Shield game against Arsenal on August 6th,” the fan group wrote on Instagram.

“The 17:30 kick-off time presents significant travel challenges from Manchester, making it difficult for many loyal supporters to attend. It’s time match-going fans were treated as a priority rather than an afterthought.

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“By boycotting this fixture, we aim to send a strong message to the FA and ITV about the impact scheduling has on fans. Our collective absence from the stadium will demonstrate our discontent and advocate for fairer game times in the future.

Arsenal's Spanish manager Mikel Arteta (R) reacts during the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on April 26, 2023. lications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)
Arsenal’s Spanish manager Mikel Arteta (R) reacts during the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north-west England, on April 26, 2023. (Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)

“We understand the love and dedication you have for City, but we believe that our collective action will bring about positive change.

“We ask fans, who are in a position to do so, to make either a £10 donation, or the equivalent cost of a match ticket, to MCFCfoodbank or another local charity.”

Arsenal news and gossip - MANCHESTER, ENGLAND: (L-R) Actors Phil Dunster, James Lance, Brendan Hunt, and Jason Sudeikis from the television show Ted Lasso and Noel Gallagher are interviewed prior to the Premier League match between Manchester City and Arsenal FC at Etihad Stadium on April 26, 2023. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND: (L-R) Actors Phil Dunster, James Lance, Brendan Hunt, and Jason Sudeikis from the television show Ted Lasso and Noel Gallagher are interviewed prior to the Premier League match between Manchester City and Arsenal FC at Etihad Stadium on April 26, 2023. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)

On this occasion, the kick-off time doesn’t present too many challenges for local Arsenal fans, given the game is at Wembley.

But those Arsenal supporters will certainly empathise with Manchester-based City fans, given the regularity with which kick-offs have been rearranged, moved to midweeks, and organised in the most inconvenient slots – just to please TV broadcasters.

It was just a few months ago that Arsenal were playing their FA Cup tie away to Manchester City on a Friday night, even though there were plenty of slots available throughout that weekend.

That’s just one of many examples where the TV schedule came first, and the fans attending the match were an afterthought.

So whilst Arsenal fans are unlikely to organise a boycott of their own for the Community Shield, they should certainly look to support the City fans’ stance.

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