The rejection emails for Paris applications went out on Tuesday. As did those informing some gold members of success. Hearing from a member with at least two away credits that he was unsuccessful, I had a look at the Arsenal World messageboard to discover that some with zero credits had been successful. It didn’t add up, but then I came up with a theory to explain.

It’s my belief that the software used to sort through the applications took the number of away credits held by the lead applicant as the deciding factor over whether or not said member (and all his/her group) made the cut. So a member who hadn’t even been to the FA Cup final in Cardiff last year (which I am led to believe counts as an away credit) and had zilch away credits, would still be eligible for one of the 20,500 spaces in the Arsenal section in Paris solely because he/she applied with someone with more credits. This goes against how the club stated it would be done, but they will probably pass the buck over to Ticketmaster.

And oh what fun those of us with over four people in our groups will have on ‘redial Wednesday’ as we all try and get through on the phonelines to secure our seats. Why can’t the online facility cope with more than four members? I’m going to take the day off, get the beers in and stick a video on. All the time pressing the redial button on the phone in a probably vain attempt to get through to Ticketmaster’s dedicated Champions League tickets number.

Still, how many people with two or more credits that received the rejection emails would happily get a sore thumb given the opportunity to do just that. I can accept the initial way of deciding who gets inside the Stade de France as fair once it is accepted that away season ticket scheme members and gold members are entitled to apply for a ticket (although it’s my belief that silver and red members who have earned more than 30 away credits should have been allowed to apply – there can’t have been that many). However, the way that the tickets seem to have been doled out indicates that the promise of fairness as specified by the club has been corrupted. Possibly by a software programmer not realising exactly how each single application within a group should be judged individually. If this is the case, the cock-up will cause heartbreak to some and unexpected joy to others. But it sucks as people would have been led to believe one thing with another resulting. I’d be interested to hear if anyone out there received an email stating that some of their group were rejected and some successful. If my theory is correct that won’t have happened.

And if my theory is wrong, then just how do you explain some of the postings on the Arsenal World messageboard stating that two members of a group with ten credits got tickets, as did the rest of their mates with zero. It doesn’t add up. As I have stated, Arsenal will probably blame Ticketmaster and a good number of fans will be left watching Arsenal’s biggest ever game on television when they should be there.

Finally, a mention for a mate of mine – Griffo - who is a red member. Been to every home game this season by using someone else’s silver membership. Been to every single away game this season with one exception – Thun away (for financial reasons). And he’s been doing this for more than just the current season. He (of all the people that have asked me) deserves to be in the Stade de France, so if an unexpected spare comes up, let me know.