Bradford City are to make an official complaint to the Football League and Football Licensing Authority over ticketing arrangements for Friday night's match at Crewe.

Chairman Geoffrey Richmond is said to be appalled that dozens of City fans were let in to the away end, only to find it was already full to capacity.

And managing director Shaun Harvey said the "apparent mismanagement" of attendance into the ground put the safety of supporters at risk.

He said: "I have spoken to the chairman and we are both appalled that this has been allowed to happen. We sold 700 of the 950 seats allocated and returned the remaining 250 to Crewe to sell on the night. Anyone going through the turnstiles should be guaranteed a seat - whether they paid on the night or bought their ticket in advance. We will be raising the matter with Crewe Alexandra, the Football League and the Football Licensing Authority."

More than 200 Bradford fans hoping to buy a ticket on the night were locked out, but around 25 who were admitted ending up sitting on the exit steps after discovering their allocated seats were already taken.

City fan Justin Hill, 27, from Thornton, who went to the game with his mum and girlfriend, said: "It was an absolute shambles. I bought the tickets ten days ago, but when we eventually got in to the away end 15 minutes after kick-off it was obvious they had let too many people in.

"There were no seats left and we ended up sitting on the concrete steps. I spoke to a number of officials about the safety risks, but no-one seemed interested."

A spokesman for Crewe Alexandra today confirmed the club had received a number of complaints from City fans. He added: "We will no doubt be looking into the matter next week."

David Pendleton, editor of the City Gent fanzine, was one of 200 fans locked out of the ground. He said: "They were selling tickets on the night and ran out, so we didn't get in - which is fair enough. But we had no idea fans with tickets couldn't get seats."

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