CST Statement on Chelsea FC Ticketing Proposals

Chelsea Supporters’ Belief members and matchgoing supporters have overwhelmingly rejected the introduction of balloting for Chelsea FC tickets.

The CST has persistently made clear to the membership that balloting wouldn’t be welcomed by matchgoing supporters, and that the CST would oppose its implementation. That place has been strengthened via CST member suggestions, supporter engagement and the numerous quantity of correspondence obtained following Wednesday’s announcement, the overwhelming majority of which opposed the introduction of ballots.

Many loyal supporters, significantly members who’ve spent years constructing loyalty factors and frequently attending matches, now face decreased entry beneath the proposed system. The membership has additionally offered no proof {that a} poll system will place extra tickets into the fingers of real supporters.

Followers are usually not against all change. Supporters perceive the necessity to sort out touting and guarantee tickets find yourself within the fingers of real matchgoing followers, and there’s recognition that some points of the broader proposals are wise and lengthy overdue. Nonetheless, supporters additionally count on any new system to be honest, clear, and proportionate.

There stays deep concern that these proposals danger weakening the long-standing precept that loyalty and dedication to Chelsea Soccer Membership ought to matter.

The CST can be involved that, regardless of months of debate, supporters are nonetheless being requested to simply accept main modifications to ticketing coverage with out adequate operational element round how key points of the system will work in follow.

All through this course of, the CST urged the membership to focus first on enhancing the prevailing ticketing operation, which many supporters already discover inconsistent and irritating, earlier than introducing additional layers of complexity and restriction.

It’s tone deaf that these proposals are being progressed towards a backdrop of rising supporter anger and mistrust, with protests organised by the ‘NotAProjectCFC’ group now confirmed forward of each the FA Cup Last and the house fixture towards Spurs.

The CST’s place stays clear. Chelsea FC should hearken to its fanbase. Supporters need the membership to pause, survey members, correctly hearken to supporter considerations and re-evaluate these proposals earlier than urgent forward with modifications which have been overwhelmingly rejected.