Ticket touting refers to buying and then reselling them for a potential profit. A synonym for this term would be a scalper. Premier League side, Chelsea, are alarmed that one of their owners, Todd Boehly has been involved in such a scheme. A company that he's part of is at the forefront of this. As a result, there is a call for an investigation into Boehly.
The Chelsea Supporters' Trust (CST) has written to Premier League chief, Richard Masters, calling for an investigation into the involvement Todd Boehly has with ticket exchange and resale company, Vivid Seats.
Chelsea co-owner, Todd Boehly, is an investor and director at Vivid Seats, a ticket exchange and resale company where fans from outside the UK can buy Premier League tickets beyond face value. The American company offers fans from outside of the UK the chance to buy and sell Premier League tickets but this can be done beyond face value, with the letter from CST pointing out a ticket for Liverpool's final home game of the season is listed for £20 000.
Vivid Seats is on a list of, "known unauthorised ticket websites" on the official Premier League website. Fans are urged to, "exercise extreme caution when dealing with these websites."
A CST spokesman said: "Vivid Seats continues to list Premier League tickets for above face value at significantly inflated rates and our members have continued to indicate that Mr Boehly's connection with Vivid Seats is a breach of trust and a clear conflict of interest."
"Not only does this undermine the efforts of Chelsea FC, The Premier League, and The Metropolitan Police to combat ticket touting, but Vivid Seats contravenes the Chelsea FC ticketing policy, and is explicitly named by the Premier League as a known unauthorised ticket website.
"We believe that now is the time for the Premier League to act swiftly and ensure that a major shareowner of a Premier League club ceases facilitating the sale of tickets for significantly above face value."
The CST claims they have repeatedly sought answers from Boehly, offering him, "multiple opportunities" to address fans concerns but their requests have gone unanswered. In their letter, the group states that Chelsea supporters feel "infuriated" and view Boehly's involvement as a, "breach of trust" and "a clear conflict of interest."
"Most notably, Vivid Seats currently lists hundreds of Chelsea FC General Admission tickets at significantly inflated prices," the letter reads. "As these tickets are not sold by the Chelsea FC website, they are considered by CFC to be, 'illegal sales.'"
CST has received a flood of complaints from its members and other Chelsea supporters, who feel Boehly’s involvement with the site directly contradicts the club’s efforts to combat ticket touting.
CST has praised Chelsea FC for stepping up their fight against ticket touting, highlighting recent efforts to tighten security around ticket sales, update the club website with clearer policies and work with the Metropolitan Police to crack down on illegal resales. However, it argues that these actions are completely undermined by Boehly’s direct connection to a site profiting from the same illicit market the club are trying to shut down.
The Football Supporters' Association (FSA) has backed the CST’s calls for action, stating that the Premier League must intervene.
"Clubs, supporters' groups, the police, and the Premier League itself have worked hard to combat ticket touting – there is no excuse for a club owner to be involved in such activity," an FSA spokesperson said.
A ticket for an upcoming home game against relegation-threatened Ipswich was listed at £990, while the asking price for some tickets for a 3 May game against league-leading Liverpool were more than £3 000. On Chelsea's own website the top-price general admission adult ticket for a highest demand category AA game is £80.
The league warns fans against buying tickets from unauthorised sellers.
"If you buy tickets from an unauthorised source, whether that be an unauthorised website, an online marketplace or a ticket tout outside the ground, you risk not being given entry to the match and losing the money you paid," it says in its guidelines.
Chelsea itself describes unauthorised sales as an, "increasing problem" and asks supporters to report ticket concerns. On its website, it says, "it is illegal to sell, or to offer to sell, tickets to Chelsea Football Club matches without the authorisation of the club."
In the wake of CST’s scathing criticism of Boehly, it has emerged that Chelsea’s Premier League clash with Liverpool has seen ticket prices top £6 000. This has led to supporters questioning how Boehly, who also owns MLB franchise, the LA Dodgers, passed the ‘fit and proper test’ that England’s top-flight puts in place to stop such conflicts of interest occurring.
"How did he pass the 'Owners & Directors test' when Abramovich was forced to sell? It's not an authorised seller by Premier League," one said on X.
"We all knew this was going to happen. The Premier League has well and truly sold its soul," another chimed in. "The pandemic should have taught them that the professional football is nothing without the fans." Another joked: "If the last 4 months are anything to go by I'd happy pay that if it was a fully restricted view."
With Chelsea in a poor run of form, pressure will continue to build on Boehly, whose ethics are under question at Stamford Bridge.
Todd Boehly's actions are atrocious. He should be investigated. He should be ousted of the club. A person like that doesn't deserve a place in a business that they can exploit for their own gains. In my view, one of two things should happen: either Boehly leaves Chelsea or leaves Vivid Seats to eliminate the potential conflict of interest.