Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly is coming under fire for his involvement in a Premier League ticket touting website which is ripping off the supporters of his own club
Tickets for Liverpool’s potential title clincher at Chelsea are going for a staggering £6,333 each – and they are being flogged by a ticket agency part-owned by Blues co-owner Todd Boehly.
US tycoon Boehly is a director and owns 41 per cent of Vivid Seats which sells premium tickets to overseas fans but is on the Premier League’s “unauthorised ticket websites” list. The Chelsea Supporters’ Trust has already called for the Premier League to investigate and take action.
Liverpool ’s trip to Chelsea is on Sunday, May 4, and there is a chance they could clinch the title at Stamford Bridge, which has caused a huge rush on tickets. Incredibly, Chelsea’s own website is offering tickets for the luxury Dugout Club at a staggering £13,000 each which entitles mega-rich fans to meet the players, see them warm-up and sit in luxury seats behind the bench.
The £6,000-plus prices are for posh seats, corporate seats and executive boxes at Stamford Bridge with a range of prices and places available. Chelsea fan Dave Johnstone, who runs the cfcuk fanzine, said: “Fans are telling me that they feel they are being squeezed out by these sorts of tickets.
READ MORE: Chelsea fans launch complaint to Premier League over Todd Boehly conflict of interestREAD MORE: Simon Jordan reveals Chelsea talks as he hints at Stamford Bridge job with Todd Boehly
“A lot of fans feel now their game has gone and clubs up and down the country are trying to get rid of season tickets so they can bring in more rich supporters willing to pay far more.” Chelsea were contacted for comment.
Chicago-based Vivid Seats is listed by the Premier League as an “unauthorised ticket website”, with the league urging supporters to “exercise extreme caution” around the company. The website charges 10 per cent commission from the sale of tickets as well as a further service charge fee and it is against the law for anybody living in Britain to use it.
And a CST spokesperson said: “Not only does this undermine the efforts of Chelsea FC, The Premier League, and The Metropolitan Police to combat ticket touting, but Vivid Seats contravenes the Chelsea FC ticketing policy, and is explicitly named by the Premier League as a known unauthorised ticket website.
“We believe that now is the time for the Premier League to act swiftly and ensure that a major shareowner of a Premier League club ceases facilitating the sale of tickets for significantly above face value.”
A Football Supporters’ Association spokesperson added: “The Football Supporters’ Association is right behind the points made by our members at Chelsea Supporters’ Trust. It is crystal clear that the Premier League needs to take action.
“Clubs, supporters’ groups, the police and the Premier League itself has worked hard in recent years to combat ticket touting – there is no excuse for a club owner to be involved in such activity.”
Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
