Chelsea Supporters' Trust have called on the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport to make amendments to Chelsea's 'special licence' to allow the club to sell tickets for their remaining Premier League home matches against Leicester City and Watford. The group believes the progress of Todd Boehly's consortium agreeing to terms to buy the club makes the rule 'even more tenuous'.
The Blues were banned from selling tickets to supporters as part of one of the conditions they had to operate under in the aftermath of Roman Abramovich being sanctioned. The licence provided to Chelsea to continue with their season also included the inability to offer new contracts or complete transfers, along with limits on the amount of money that could be spent on travelling and hosting matches.
The rules initially included restrictions on ticketing for the Champions League and FA Cup and tickets being able to be sold to away supporters, but these areas have already seen adjustments. The trust believes keeping fans away from Stamford Bridge was an 'irrational' decision that served to punish supporters.
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With Boehly and his partners now expecting to complete a takeover by the end of the month, the supporters' trust has made their position clear and called out to the DCMS, Nadine Dorries and Nigel Huddleston. The Blues have just two home matches remaining before the end of the season.
The statement read: "Terms have been agreed by the Todd Boehly led consortium to acquire Chelsea FC, subject to all necessary regulatory approvals. The logic of preventing Chelsea members from purchasing tickets for home Premier League games, therefore, becomes even more tenuous.
Allowing sales of FA up and Champions League tickets, but not those for Premier League, was an irrational decision and punished loyal supporters from attending League home fixtures. Given the significant change in circumstances reflected in the ownership announcement, the Chelsea Supporters' Trust board calls on the DCMS to immediately amend the 'special licence' and for tickets to Chelsea's last two home games this season to be sold by the club to members. Supporters must not be punished.
