Chelsea have abandoned their request to hold their FA Cup quarter-final tie away to Middlesbrough behind closed doors.
A statement, released by the FA on Tuesday evening, confirmed successful talks with the Blues following their claim about the “integrity” of the match.
The Premier League club are currently banned from selling tickets to fans as part of Government sanctions against Russian oligarch owner Roman Abramovich and his UK assets.
The statement read: “After constructive talks between The FA and Chelsea, the club has agreed to remove their request for the FA Cup quarter-final tie against Middlesbrough to be played behind closed doors.”
Chelsea responded that they are “grateful” for The FA’s “continuing efforts to find a solution”. The sanctions also appear to prevent any away fans attending matches at Stamford Bridge, a situation that is under discussion.
Tuesday’s statement added: “The FA remains in ongoing discussions with Chelsea, the Premier League and Government to find a solution that would enable both Chelsea fans to attend games and away fans to attend Stamford Bridge, whilst ensuring sanctions are respected.”
Middlesbrough made clear their anger at their sixth-round opponents requesting the game at the Riverside be played without fans.
The Championship side released a statement which described the plea as “bizarre and without any merit whatsoever”, adding: “Given the reasons for these sanctions, for Chelsea to seek to invoke sporting ‘integrity’ as reason for the game being played behind closed doors is ironic in the extreme.”
