Premier League giants Chelsea’s ticket sales from their FA Cup semifinal against Crystal Palace at Wembley Stadium in April should go to Ukraine, the head of the UK government’s Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee (DCMS) has urged in the aftermath of the club’s Russian owner, Roman Abramovich, being sanctioned.
The Champions League quarterfinalists are not allowed to sell tickets as part of a range of measures aimed at ensuring businessman Abramovich cannot profit from the club because of his alleged close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Each of the four FA Cup semifinalists could expect an allocation of around 33,000 tickets for the matches at the 90,000-capacity national stadium.
The government will reportedly make a decision imminently on whether Chelsea will be able to sell tickets and any conditions the Blues will have to meet in order to do so. The game is due to be played on the weekend of April 16.
“The FA must be allowed to sell tickets to Chelsea fans so long as all money goes to the people of Ukraine,” argued Julian Knight, the Tory Member of Parliament for Midlands town Solihull.
“It is ridiculous that we face the prospect of a half-full Wembley for the Chelsea versus Palace FA Cup semifinal.
“Chelsea is more than just its owner – it’s a living organism with huge importance to its fans and community.”
Only season-ticket holding fans are able to attend Chelsea home games at Stamford Bridge under restrictions which also mean the club cannot sell merchandise, tie players to new contracts, make signings or spend more than $26,000 on travel to away games.
The curbs have been implemented under a government licence Chelsea are operating under while potential buyers prepare bids for the third-placed team in the English top flight.