Foot & Soccer Soccer Match Reports, Football News 
March 27 – Chelsea’s fan base is in uproar after revelations that membership co-owner Todd Boehly (pictured) holds a big stake in Vivid Seats, a ticket resale platform that lists Premier League tickets at vastly inflated costs, together with these for the London aspect’s personal matches.
Chelsea Supporters’ Belief (CST) has penned a strongly-worded letter to Premier League CEO Richard Masters, demanding motion over what it calls a “clear battle of curiosity” and a “breach of belief.”
CST has acquired a flood of complaints from its members and different Chelsea supporters, who really feel Boehly’s involvement with the positioning straight contradicts the membership’s efforts to fight ticket touting.
Vivid Seats, the place Boehly reportedly owns a 41% stake by way of his holding firm and serves on the board of administrators, is listed by the Premier League as an “unauthorised ticket web site”.
Regardless of this, it continues to promote tickets for each remaining Premier League match this season, together with lots of of Chelsea normal admission tickets, at eye-watering markups. The letter particulars {that a} Liverpool ticket for the ultimate dwelling recreation of the season, for instance, is at the moment listed for practically £20,000.
CST confirmed that it has repeatedly reached out to Boehly and his representatives, providing alternatives to publicly or privately handle supporters’ issues. Thus far, these requests have been ignored and Vivid Seats continues to listing 1000’s of tickets in direct defiance of Chelsea’s personal insurance policies.
CST has praised Chelsea FC for stepping up their struggle towards ticket touting, highlighting current efforts to tighten safety round ticket gross sales, replace the membership web site with clearer insurance policies and work with the Metropolitan Police to crack down on unlawful resales. Nevertheless, it argues that these actions are fully undermined by Boehly’s direct connection to a website taking advantage of the identical illicit market the membership are attempting to close down.
CST mentioned: “Vivid Seats continues to listing Premier League tickets for above face worth at considerably inflated charges and our members have continued to point that Mr Boehly’s reference to Vivid Seats is a breach of belief and a transparent battle of curiosity.
“Not solely does this undermine the efforts of Chelsea FC, the Premier League and the Metropolitan Police to fight ticket touting, however Vivid Seats contravenes the Chelsea FC ticketing coverage and is explicitly named by the Premier League as a recognized unauthorised ticket web site.
“We consider that now could be the time for the Premier League to behave swiftly and be sure that a serious shareowner of a Premier League membership ceases facilitating the sale of tickets for considerably above face worth.”
CST acquired backing from the Soccer Supporters’ Affiliation, which mentioned: “The Soccer Supporters’ Affiliation is true behind the factors made by our members at Chelsea Supporters’ Belief. It’s crystal clear that the Premier League must take motion.
“Golf equipment, supporters’ teams, the police and the Premier League itself have labored arduous lately to fight ticket touting. There isn’t a excuse for a membership proprietor to be concerned in such exercise.”
The controversy provides to rising scrutiny over Boehly’s possession and decision-making at Stamford Bridge as frustration amongst Chelsea supporters reaches boiling level. Whether or not the Premier League intervenes – or Boehly lastly breaks his silence – stays to be seen.
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