Bayern Munich threaten stay-away ticket holders

Berlin: Bayern Munich are offering subsidised tickets for next month`s Champions League match at Arsenal, but the European champions have threatened to revoke the season tickets of stay-away supporters at home.

Bayern have said they will withdraw any season tickets for holders who attend less than eight of the 17 home Bundesliga matches per year at Munich`s Allianz Arena. Munich have around 10,000 fans waiting for season tickets, but empty seats and spaces on the terraces for some home league games have annoyed Bayern`s bosses. The Bavarian giants are writing to each season-ticket holder to inform them that their rights will be revoked if they fail to attend the minimum number of games. Because the season tickets are non-transferable, some fans only attend top games and Bayern want to see the Allianz Arena at capacity of 71,000 for each home game. Season tickets to see Bayern in Munich start from 140 euros ($189, £115) for standing only up to 750 euros for the best seats. Last month, Bayern announced travelling fans would pay 45 euros (£37), rather than the 75 euros (£62), for the February 19 Champions League clash at Arsenal. "This is intended to represent a small thank you for the great support of the followers in the past calendar year 2013," said the club. Bayern have said the decision to supplement tickets for away fans will cost them around 90,000 euros. The return leg is in Munich on March 11. Germany defender Jerome Boateng has said defending title-holders Bayern face the hardest of the eight Last 16 clashes. "Arsenal are one of the strongest opponents that we could have drawn, in those two games we`ll see where we stand," said centre-back Boateng. "We`ll have to play at a high level in order to progress. "I`m often in contact with (Arsenal`s German internationals) Lukas Podolski and Mesut Ozil, we`re looking forward to the game."