Chelsea supporters are expressing outrage and bewilderment after discovering that a ticket resale website partially owned by club chairman Todd Boehly is listing seats for the upcoming FA Cup semi-final at massively inflated prices.
Vivid Seats, an American secondary ticketing platform in which Boehly holds a minority stake, is offering tickets for Chelsea's clash with Leeds United at Wembley Stadium on 26 April for prices ranging from £148 to a staggering £1,705. These figures dwarf the official face value, which is set between £30 and £150.
"When tickets for major matches are appearing on resale platforms at hugely inflated prices, it makes clear that the system simply isn't working for regular fans," said Dominic Rosso, chair of the Chelsea Supporters Trust.
The listings, which number over 100 and cover all sections of the stadium including designated fan areas and hospitality lounges, appeared online even before tickets were officially released to Chelsea season ticket holders. While the platform's prices are set by individual sellers, with Vivid Seats taking a commission, the connection to the club's chairman has ignited a firestorm of criticism.
"People are confused and upset that there is this clear conflict of interest," Rosso added. "Mr. Boehly should be at the forefront of the fight against ticket touting in his role as chairman, but instead he is linked to a company charging eye-watering amounts of money."
A technical loophole means the listings are not visible to users accessing the site from the UK, avoiding a breach of local resale laws. However, a simple check using a virtual private network (VPN) to simulate a US location readily reveals the offers.
The controversy extends beyond the FA Cup. Vivid Seats also has listings for all six of Chelsea's remaining Premier League fixtures this season, with prices reaching up to £3,231.
The Football Association has reiterated its standard advice, with a spokesperson stating: "We always encourage fans to only purchase tickets for events at Wembley Stadium through the official channels, and we strongly advise against anyone purchasing tickets through unauthorised channels."
Requests for comment from Chelsea FC and a representative for Todd Boehly have so far gone unanswered, leaving fans to question the alignment between the club's leadership and their interests.