The
UK government has made amendments to Chelsea's operating licence, meaning
fans are now able to buy tickets to certain matches and Roman Abramovich can
put £30m into the club to keep it running.
Chelsea
fans are now able to buy tickets to away matches, cup games and women's
fixtures after amendments to their government licence.
It means that fans will be able to purchase tickets for Chelsea's FA Cup
semi-final against Crystal Palace at Wembley on the weekend of April 16 and
17.
However, tickets for home Premier League games are still subject to
restrictions. Only season ticket holders and those who purchased tickets
before the UK government sanctioned owner Roman Abramovich will be able to
attend.
Visiting fans will be able to purchase tickets for Chelsea's remaining
Premier League home fixtures, with all revenue going to the Premier League.
Sports Minister Nigel Huddleston said: "The Government has today made
alterations to the licence to Chelsea Football club so that fans will be
able to access tickets to away matches, cup games and women's fixtures.
"I would like to thank fans for their patience while we have engaged with
the football authorities to make this possible.
"Since Roman Abramovich was added to the UK's sanctions list for his links
to Vladimir Putin we have worked extensively to ensure the club can continue
to play football while ensuring the sanctions regime continues to be
enforced."
The changes mean that Chelsea fans will be able to purchase tickets to
future Premier League away fixtures, with any revenue given to the host
team.
For future FA Cup and Champions League matches, fans will be able to
purchase tickets but again, revenue will go via the Premier League to the
relevant competition organiser or home club rather than Chelsea in order to
remain compliant with current sanctions.
In the case of Women's Super League fixtures, an exception will be made to
allow fans to purchase home as well as away tickets as these games have not
yet gone on general sale, and there is a risk of empty stands for these
matches.
Future Chelsea Women's FA Cup tickets will be sold in the same manner as
men's FA Cup tickets, with revenue being passed to the competition
organiser.
Abramovich able to put £30m into running
of Chelsea
The UK government are also allowing Abramovich to put up to £30m into
Chelsea to keep the club in business before it is sold.
Abramovich was sanctioned by the UK government on March 10.
Section 10.3 of Chelsea's amended operating license says: "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 Abramovich. Chelsea FC PLC is
supported financially by Fordstam.
Race to buy Chelsea: Ricketts family fly
to London but face backlash
The Ricketts family are flying to London to meet key stakeholders of Chelsea
as they wait to discover if they are on the shortlist of preferred bidders
for the club.
The race to buy Chelsea is hotting up with the Raine Group meeting now to
create a shortlist of the best-placed groups to take control of the club,
with an announcement expected imminently and ownership of the Premier League
club to change hands within a month.
Sky Sports News understands the purpose of the Ricketts' trip is to meet key
stakeholders of the club, including the Chelsea Supporters' Trust and the
Chelsea Pitch Owners.
However, the family have faced backlash from the head of the Chelsea Chicago
Supporters Club, Brian Wolff, who posted a letter to Twitter on Monday
opposing the Ricketts' potential takeover of Chelsea.
The Ricketts family later said in a statement if they are successful in
their bid to buy Chelsea they will actively promote the values of diversity
and inclusion.
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Chelsea's fixture schedule:
To be rearranged: Leicester (H) Premier League
To be rearranged: Leeds (a) Premier League, live on Sky Sports
March 19 - Middlesbrough (a) FA Cup QF
April 2 - Brentford (H) Premier League
April 6 - Real Madrid (H) Champions League QF first leg
April 9 - Southampton (a) Premier League
April 12 - Real Madrid (a) Champions League QF second leg
April 16/17 - Crystal Palace (Wembley), FA Cup semi-final
April 20 - Arsenal (H) Premier League, live on Sky Sports
April 24 - West Ham (H) Premier League, live on Sky Sports
April 26/27 - Man City/Atletico Champions League SF first leg *
May 1 - Everton (a) Premier League, live on Sky Sports
May 3/4 - Man City/Atletico Champions League SF second leg *
May 7 - Wolves (H) Premier League
May 14 - FA Cup final *
May 15 - Man United (a) Premier League
May 22 - Watford (H) Premier League
May 28 - Champions League final *
* Subject to progress
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