Around 200 Chelsea fans marched down Wembley Way ahead of the FA Cup final to protest against the club's BlueCo ownership, led by Behdad Eghbali and Todd Boehly. The demonstration, organised by the supporters group Not A Project CFC, saw fans chanting songs against the ownership and calling for the return of former owner Roman Abramovich.
Lifelong Chelsea fan David Cook, 34, a main organiser of the group, said: 'It's such an iconic walk up Wembley Way and it will be something of a first. I know it will look strange to some supporters. You reach the FA Cup final and it's a sign of success. But this is about how the club is being run. This is our club, we are passionate and we support our team. We want it back.'
The protest highlights growing disillusionment among Chelsea fans, who believe the current owners are running the club as an investment rather than a football institution. Under Abramovich, the club enjoyed sustained success, but this season they face mid-table mediocrity and are heavy underdogs in the final against Manchester City.
The group plans further action, including turning their backs on the pitch during the 22nd minute of Tuesday's match against Tottenham, marking the moment the current owners took over in 2022. Cook added: 'We hope to make a big impact and an impact big enough to have an impact so potential BlueCo investors can see what's going on.'
