Middlesbrough have dismissed Chelsea's request to have the clubs' upcoming FA Cup meeting played behind closed doors as "bizarre and without any merit whatsoever".
Chelsea are currently operating under a restricted licence after Roman Abramovich, owner of the club since 2003, was placed on the UK government's sanctioned individuals list. This means they are not able to sell tickets beyond those already sold when the sanctions were announced, with away games impacted heavily.
The Championship side's chairman Steve Gibson has also addressed the claims, stressing that those at his club have done nothing wrong and claiming they should not be punished for Chelsea's situation. Chelsea's request comes after they confirmed the deadline to sell away tickets had passed without them being able to secure amendments to the new licence which would allow them to take a full allocation of fans to the Riverside Stadium.
We are aware of Chelsea's request to have Saturday's Emirates FA Cup sixth round tie played behind closed doors and find their suggestion both bizarre and without any merit whatsoever," Middlesbrough's statement reads. The game is due to take place on March 19 at the Championship team's stadium.
"All concerned are well aware of the reasons Chelsea have been sanctioned and that this has nothing to do with Middlesbrough Football Club. To suggest as result that MFC and our fans should be penalised is not only grossly unfair but without any foundation.
"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. We currently await formal notification from the FA of the next steps but rest assured MFC will resist Chelsea's actions in the strongest terms."
An FA spokesperson has issued a response, saying: "We are aware of Chelsea FC's request to play their Emirates FA Cup Quarter Final tie against Middlesbrough FC behind closed doors. The matter will be discussed at the Professional Game Board meeting tomorrow [Wednesday]."
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Chelsea made it through to the last eight of the competition after a victory at Luton Town, which took place the week before sanctions were imposed on Abramovich. Middlesbrough, meanwhile, beat Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur in their fifth-round game.
"It is important for the competition that the match against Middlesbrough goes ahead, however it is with extreme reluctance that we are asking the FA board to direct that the game be played behind closed doors for matters of sporting integrity," the Premier League side's statement read. However, Boro chairman Gibson took a different stance.
“The words 'sporting integrity' and Chelsea don't belong in the same sentence," Gibson told Telegraph Sport. adding "For 19 years, money has fuelled the success of Chelsea Football Club".
"Our fans, our club, our players and our manager have done nothing wrong. If Chelsea were to succeed, and the game be played behind closed doors, does that mean all the Premier League games have to be played behind closed doors? And all the Champions League games?
"And for what reason? Because of their owner, all the rest of us have to suffer. This has to be kicked out and [Chelsea chairman] Bruce Buck should be kicked out.”
The Chelsea Supporters' Trust, meanwhile, has issued a statement of its own. The group had previously expressed its "concern" after learning of sanctions against Abramovich.
"The CST has made it clear to the Government and the Sports Minister, Nigel Huddleston, that supporters must be able to watch their team. We strongly urge Government to amend the licence and allow supporters to obtain tickets," the statement reads.
"Playing behind closed doors does not benefit any supporters. The CST has asked Chelsea to withdraw the request for the Middlesbrough game to be played behind closed doors.”
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