Details confirmed for FA Cup final

Manchester United’s Emirates FA Cup final clash with Chelsea will kick off at 17:15 BST on Saturday 19 May 2018, the Football Association has confirmed.

The teatime encounter at Wembley Stadium will be broadcast live on BBC One and BT Sport 2 in the UK. The kick-off time was agreed after consultation with the Safety Advisory Group.

The FA has also released some other key information ahead of the showpiece event…

HOW TICKETS HAVE BEEN ALLOCATED
Ticket allocations for this year’s final are in line with last season, with each set of fans being granted over 28,000 tickets. The figure represents approximately 80 per cent of the available seating. As well as the ticket split between the two finalist clubs, approximately 14,000 tickets will be distributed back into the game through the football family, which includes volunteers representing County FAs, FA affiliated leagues, clubs and charities.

HOW MUCH TICKETS WILL COST
Tickets for the Emirates FA Cup final are priced at £45, £70, £115 and £145 for adults, with a saving of £25 for concession tickets in Category 1 and 2 and a saving of £10 in Category 3 and 4.

WHERE SUPPORTERS WILL BE HOUSED
Chelsea fans will occupy the East End of Wembley Stadium, whilst Manchester United fans will be in the West End, determined by the travel requirements of the majority of each club’s supporters. Fan parks will be installed externally at the respective ends of the stadium. The allocation of dressing room for each club also replicates the ends where their supporters will be gathered.

THE MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee Michael Oliver will take charge of the big occasion at the national stadium. It will be the 33-year-old’s fourth major final at Wembley, after handling the 2009 League One Play-Off final, the 2015 Community Shield and the 2016 League Cup final. The Northumberland whistler was the man in the middle for United’s FA Cup quarter-final meeting with Chelsea last season, when he sent off Ander Herrera and the Blues won 1-0 at Stamford Bridge.

Oliver will be assisted on the day by Lee Betts and Ian Hussin, while Lee Mason is the fourth official and Constantine Hatzidakis will be the reserve assistant referee. The FA has also confirmed that the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) will be in operation, with Neil Swarbrick – who also fulfilled the role in February’s Carabao Cup final between Arsenal and Manchester City – appointed alongside assistant Mick McDonough.