Middlesborough hit back with strong response to Chelsea’s ‘bizarre’ request to the English FA
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The Championship side Middlesbrough have slammed Chelsea’s “bizarre” request to play Saturday’s FA Cup quarter-final at the Riverside behind closed doors.
Chelsea’s ticket sales were put to a halt last Thursday after owner Roman Abramovich was sanctioned by the UK government over his links with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Even though the government issued a licence to allow the European Champions to continue playing, under the terms, the club are not allowed to sell tickets to any matches.
Therefore, the Blues requested the FA that they want the game to be played behind closed doors for matters of “sporting integrity”.
A statement read: “Chelsea FC recognises that such an outcome would have a huge impact on Middlesbrough and its supporters, as well as our own fans who have already bought the limited number of tickets that were sold before the licence was imposed, but we believe this is the fairest way of proceeding in the current circumstances.”
Expectedly, Middlesbrough were not happy with the suggestion. Middlesbrough said they will challenge the “bizarre” and “ironic” request “in the strongest possible terms” while the club owner Steve Gibson labelled the Premier League side as a “rotten football club”.
“We are aware of Chelsea’s request to have Saturday’s Emirates FA Cup sixth round tie played behind closed doors and find their suggestion both bizarre and without any merit whatsoever,” a statement from Middlesbrough read.
“All concerned are well aware of the reasons Chelsea have been sanctioned and that this has nothing to do with Middlesbrough Football Club.
“To suggest as a result that MFC and our fans should be penalised is not only grossly unfair but without any foundation.
“Given the reasons for these sanctions, for Chelsea to seek to invoke sporting “integrity” as reason for the game being played behind closed doors is ironic in the extreme.
“We currently await formal notification from the FA of the next steps but rest assured MFC will resist Chelsea’s actions in the strongest terms.”
The Football Association will make a decision on Wednesday.
Why are Chelsea banned from selling tickets?
The West London Club had sold between 500 and 600 tickets of their 4,620 allocations before the licence placing restrictions on the club came into effect on 10 March.
The measure was introduced to stop the Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich, who is looking to sell the club, from making any further profits.
Also read: Chelsea owner slammed with sanctions by European Union
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Sandipan Roy
(207 Articles Published)