Chelsea Fans are up in arms over club chairman Todd Boehly’s controversial link to Vivid Seats, a U.S.-based ticket resale platform. While Boehly co-owns Chelsea FC, he is also a director and investor in Vivid Seats, which has been listing Chelsea match tickets at exorbitant prices.
Fans were particularly outraged when tickets for Chelsea’s home clash against Liverpool on May 3 appeared on the platform with staggering price tags ranging from £685 to an eye-watering £6,560. This stark contrast to standard ticket pricing has left supporters questioning Boehly’s ethics and his commitment to fair fan access.
Chelsea Supporters’ Trust Calls Foul
The Chelsea Supporters’ Trust (CST) did not mince words, branding Boehly’s involvement with Vivid Seats as a “breach of trust” and a glaring conflict of interest. The trust emphasized that the resale of Chelsea match tickets outside the official club channels is deemed “illegal” by the club itself.
Adding fuel to the fire, the CST pointed out that hundreds of general admission tickets for Chelsea games continue to be listed on Vivid Seats at heavily inflated rates. This revelation has sparked outrage among fans who see this as a betrayal of the club’s values and a disregard for loyal supporters.
Chelsea Fans: Premier League Issues Stark Warning
The Premier League has taken a firm stance against unauthorized ticket sales and has classified Vivid Seats as an “unauthorized ticket website.” In a statement, the league warned fans to “exercise extreme caution” when purchasing tickets from such platforms.
In the UK, selling football tickets without authorization is a criminal offense, making the situation even more precarious. Chelsea fans are now calling on the Premier League to take decisive action against Boehly’s involvement, arguing that no club chairman should have ties to a resale platform that profits from inflated ticket prices.
Chelsea Fans: CST Seeks Premier League Intervention
Despite repeated efforts by the CST to engage with Boehly and demand corrective action, their concerns have fallen on deaf ears. With no steps taken to address the issue, the CST has now escalated the matter to the Premier League, urging it to intervene.
The Football Supporters’ Association has also thrown its weight behind the CST, arguing that club owners should not be involved in resale schemes that exploit fans. They stressed that football should remain accessible to its core supporters rather than being turned into an exclusive event for the wealthy.
Silence From Chelsea and the Premier League
As tensions mount, both Chelsea FC and the Premier League have yet to issue official statements regarding the controversy. This silence has only deepened fan frustration, with many fearing that their concerns are being ignored in favor of commercial interests.
For now, Chelsea supporters remain united in their demand for transparency and fairness. Whether Boehly will heed their calls or continue to sidestep the issue remains to be seen—but one thing is clear: the fans are not backing down.
