Some stories don’t need much context to land.
A club’s fanbase is already frustrated; results haven’t been good enough, with faith in the ownership at an all-time low.
And then something like this emerges.
Chelsea chairman faces huge criticism as FA Cup semi-final tickets appear inflated
According to the BBC, Vivid Seats, an American ticket resale platform in which Chelsea owner Todd Boehly holds a minority stake, is listing tickets for the club’s FA Cup semi-final against Leeds, with prices ranging from $200 to $2,308.
In pounds, that’s anywhere between £148 and £1,705.
The face value of those same tickets sits between £30 and £150.
The Chelsea Supporters Trust were vocal about their anger.
Chairman, Dominic Rosso, said supporters are “confused and upset” by what he described as a clear conflict of interest.
His message to Boehly was direct.
“Mr Boehly should be at the forefront of the fight against ticket touting in his role as chairman, but instead he is linked to a company charging eye-watering amounts of money.”
The listings aren’t limited to the FA Cup semi-final either.
Vivid Seats has tickets available for all six of Chelsea’s remaining Premier League fixtures, priced between $149 and $4,372.
FA Cup final tickets are already listed too, starting at $452 and rising to $4,912.
However, the response from Premier League chief executive Richard Masters offered little comfort.
He confirmed the league was satisfied that no rules had been broken and that no disciplinary action would be taken.
What makes it even more uncomfortable is Chelsea’s own record of fighting ticket touting.
Last season, the club ejected 1,393 people from Stamford Bridge for possession of touted tickets.
Nearly 2,750 accounts linked to touts were cancelled.
But as the CST noted, all of that work is undermined the moment fans can buy those same tickets for a larger price.
As it stands, no response has been forthcoming.
Want to get the latest transfer news direct to your phone? Join our WhatsApp community by clicking here.
