Chelsea FC’s operating license has been amended by the UK government, allowing fans to purchase tickets to certain matches and giving the club access to a £30 million fund through its parent business.
Chelsea’s updated operating license states in section 10.3: “Under this licence, subject to the conditions below, the Parent may pay the Club up to £30,000,000.00 in respect of cashflow or liquidity issues faced by the Club.”
The Parent is Fordstam Ltd which is owned by Roman Abramovich, who was sanctioned by the UK government on March 10. Fordstam is a financial supporter of Chelsea FC PLC.
Chelsea fans can now purchase tickets for away matches, cup games, and women’s matches, thanks to another update to the license.
It means that tickets for Chelsea’s FA Cup semi-final against Crystal Palace at Wembley on April 16 and 17 will be available for purchase.
However, there are still some limits on tickets for home Premier League games. Season ticket holders and those who acquired tickets before owner Roman Abramovich was sanctioned by the UK government will be permitted to attend.
Visiting fans will be allowed to buy tickets for the rest of Chelsea’s Premier League home games, with all proceeds going to the league.
Minister for Sport Nigel Huddleston said: “The government has made changes to Chelsea Football Club’s license today, allowing fans to purchase tickets to away matches, cup games, and women’s matches.
“I’d like to express my gratitude to supporters for their patience while we worked with the football authorities to make this happen.
“Since Roman Abramovich was listed to the UK’s sanctions list for his ties to Vladimir Putin, we’ve worked hard to ensure the club can continue to play football while the sanctions regime is enforced,” says the statement.
Any excess cash generated by Chelsea ticket sales will be donated to organisations that assist Ukrainian refugees, according to the Premier League.
According to a spokeswoman, “Chelsea FC has requested, and the Premier League has agreed, that this money be donated to a charity that will help victims of Ukraine’s war. Following consultation with the club, the beneficiary charities will be notified in due time.”
Chelsea supporters will now be able to purchase tickets to future Premier League away matches, with all proceeds going to the host team.
Fans will be able to purchase tickets for future FA Cup and Champions League fixtures, but income will be routed through the Premier League to the relevant competition organiser or home club rather than Chelsea in order to comply with current sanctions.
Because certain games have not yet gone on general sale, there is a possibility of empty stands for these matches. In the event of Women’s Super League fixtures, an exemption will be granted to allow fans to purchase both home and away tickets.
Future Chelsea Women’s FA Cup tickets will be sold in the same way that Chelsea Men’s FA Cup tickets are, with all proceeds going to the competition organizer.
