Why criticism of Man City's empty seats at FA Cup semi-final is tone deaf and out of touch

All told, Easter Saturday was a pretty disastrous day for Manchester City. Pep Guardiola's side put in an abysmal first-half performance in the FA Cup semi-final, so it came as no surprise that they were ripped apart by a rampant Liverpool at Wembley.

The game got off to an irreparable start even before a ball was kicked when a minority of City supporters interrupted the minute's silence held to commemorate the 33rd anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster. The disrespect toward the 97 football fans who lost their lives that day, their families and all those associated with Liverpool, was a shameful disgrace.

Yet, according to some, neither was the biggest City talking point of the day. Rather, it was, once again, City fans' attendance.

READ MORE: 'We thought we were finished' - Man City fanzine King of the Kippax keeping football heritage alive

There were undoubtedly fewer City fans at Wembley than their Liverpool counterparts. The huge City flag that covered three blocks of seats of the top tier of the City end made that immediately obvious. Due to their superior numbers, and their side's superior performance, Liverpool fans made such a racket that you'd be forgiven for thinking the game was being held at Anfield.

Like many City fans, it baffles me why so many people care so much about City's attendances. Whether it be counting empty blue seats at the Etihad Stadium to critiquing fans who have made a 400-mile round journey to London, some people clearly have nothing better to concern themselves with.

It was even labelled by some a "disgrace". Here is a list of things that are more deserving of condemnation.

As MEN Sport reported last month, there were no direct train services between the North West and London for the