Chelsea have ramped up their fight against ticket touting, revealing that one tout was operating with an astonishing 340 membership accounts linked to a single ticket for January’s clash against West Ham.
In an email to supporters, the club reaffirmed its commitment to tackling illegal ticket sales, detailing the “robust action” being taken to curb the problem.
Major Crackdown: Over 1,000 Stopped, 1,500 Memberships Canceled
Chelsea disclosed that more than 1,000 people were stopped from entering Stamford Bridge last season due to suspected ticket misuse. Additionally, 1,500 memberships were revoked, and four arrests were made, the highest for any Premier League club.
The club’s anti-touting measures include:
- A dedicated investigative team tracking ticket purchases and misuse.
- Uniformed and undercover staff deployed to identify touts.
- In-person seat checks at home matches.
- A fan hotline to report suspicious activity.
- Collaboration with police to secure Football Banning Orders for convicted touts.
Impact on Stamford Bridge Atmosphere
Beyond financial loss, touting has also affected the match-day experience. Both former manager Mauricio Pochettino and current boss Enzo Maresca have highlighted the issue, linking it to the lack of atmosphere at Stamford Bridge.
To counter this, Chelsea have introduced a singing section in the Shed End, initially featuring 120 season ticket holders. This will be expanded to 150 for the upcoming quarter-final against Legia Warsaw in the UEFA Conference League.
