Chelsea’s situation is getting new chapters every day. Julian Knight, chairman of the UK Parliamentary Committee on Culture, Media and Sports, said fans should do the same on Monday after the club and its owner Roman Abramovich received bans from the British government on players’ signing and inability to sell tickets. Tickets for the FA Cup semifinals will be allowed to purchase.
Chelsea have been exercising restraint in their operations since the British government imposed sanctions on Abramovich over his political and personal involvement with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
At the moment, the government only allows the club to continue playing its matches and pay its staff. In addition, he restricted the sale of the club, which was announced by Abramovich before the ban.
“It’s absurd that we face the FA Cup semi – final Chelsea V Palace half way through Wembley,” said Knight, chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Culture, Media and Sports. “Chelsea is not only its owner, but a creature of immense importance to its fans and community.”
“But with so much caution, the FA has no reason to exclude them. As long as all the money goes to the Ukrainian people, Chelsea can sell FA tickets to fans.” In the FA Cup quarter-finals, the club was not allowed to sell the entire ticket load for the match against Middlesbrough. Chelsea thought the match would take place behind closed doors, but withdrew from the request after criticism from public comment.
The FA, which organizes the FA Cup, has said it will work with the government to ensure that tickets are sold “respecting the restrictions” imposed on Chelsea and respecting the club’s license limits. “We expect both FA Cup semi-finals to be sold out at Wembley Stadium, including tickets for Chelsea fans for the match against Crystal Palace,” a FA spokesman said.
