Chelsea asks the British Government to authorize ticket sales amid economic sanctions | Soccer

Given the lack of liquidity caused by the freezing of the assets of the owner of Chelsea Roman Abramovich, Chelsea asked the British government on Monday to authorize ticket sales.

“We ask the government to allow our fans to be able to access the tickets”the London club said in a statement.

“There have been meetings on a daily basis to find a solution. Also the Premier League and the FA (the English Football Federation) are also discussing with the government the issues of sporting integrity caused (by this situation) if fans are not allowed to attend matches“, adds the club in the text.

As a consequence of the sanctions imposed on Abramovich for his proximity to the Vladimir Putin regime, after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Chelsea cannot sell tickets to non-subscribing fans or rival fans who visit Stamford Bridge, or the ‘Blues’ fans who want to see their team play abroad.

The government placed the club with a special license after the battery of sanctions taken against the Russian oligarch last season, which prevents Chelsea, and by extension Abramovich, from generate new revenue.

The license has already been modified to the one initially implemented, with an increase in the spending limit for match days that has gone from 500,000 pounds (597,000 euros, 655,000 dollars) to 900,000 pounds (1,075 million euros, 1,178 million dollars).

On Sunday, after the victory against Newcastle (1-0), Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel joked that he was willing to “drive a minibus” for the movement of their players if necessary.

On the other hand, the British Prime Minister’s spokesman considered “completely out of place” the fact that the fans of the Chelsea chant Abramovich’s name during games.

“We are fully aware of the strength of sentiment surrounding a popular club, but that is no excuse for an attitude that is Completely inappropriate at the current time.”said a spokesman for Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

“I believe that people can express their passion and your support without resorting to that sort of thing“, he added.

The reigning European champion travels to Lille on Wednesday to play the second leg of the round of 16 with the advantage of 2-0 achieved in London against the French team.

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