March 27 – Chelsea’s fan base is in uproar after revelations that club co-owner Todd Boehly (pictured) holds a significant stake in Vivid Seats, a ticket resale platform that lists Premier League tickets at vastly inflated prices, including those for the London side’s own matches.
Chelsea Supporters’ Trust (CST) has penned a strongly-worded letter to Premier League CEO Richard Masters, demanding action over what it calls a “clear conflict of interest” and a “breach of trust.”
CST has received a flood of complaints from its members and other Chelsea supporters, who feel Boehly’s involvement with the site directly contradicts the club’s efforts to combat ticket touting.
Vivid Seats, where Boehly reportedly owns a 41% stake through his holding company and serves on the board of directors, is listed by the Premier League as an “unauthorised ticket website”.
Despite this, it continues to sell tickets for every remaining Premier League match this season, including hundreds of Chelsea general admission tickets, at eye-watering markups. The letter details that a Liverpool ticket for the final home game of the season, for example, is currently listed for nearly £20,000.
CST confirmed that it has repeatedly reached out to Boehly and his representatives, offering opportunities to publicly or privately address supporters’ concerns. So far, those requests have been ignored and Vivid Seats continues to list thousands of tickets in direct defiance of Chelsea’s own policies.
CST has praised Chelsea FC for stepping up their fight against ticket touting, highlighting recent efforts to tighten security around ticket sales, update the club website with clearer policies and work with the Metropolitan Police to crack down on illegal resales. However, it argues that these actions are completely undermined by Boehly’s direct connection to a site profiting from the same illicit market the club are trying to shut down.
CST said: “Vivid Seats continues to list Premier League tickets for above face value at significantly inflated rates and our members have continued to indicate that Mr Boehly’s connection with Vivid Seats is a breach of trust and a clear conflict of interest.
“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.”
CST received backing from the Football Supporters’ Association, which said: “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 have worked hard in recent years to combat ticket touting. There is no excuse for a club owner to be involved in such activity.”
The controversy adds to growing scrutiny over Boehly’s ownership and decision-making at Stamford Bridge as frustration among Chelsea supporters reaches boiling point. Whether the Premier League intervenes – or Boehly finally breaks his silence – remains to be seen.
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