The Chelsea Supporters’ Trust (CST) has written to co-owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali warning that the club is sliding towards “irreversible toxicity” unless the board improves communication and addresses rising costs for fans. The letter, sent this month, cited concerns over higher ticket prices, merchandise and travel costs, and a lack of a public-facing vision from the ownership since their 2022 takeover.
The CST said the mood among supporters is at its lowest since the early 1980s, with many feeling the club has become “a laughing stock on and off the pitch” despite spending over £1bn on signings. Recent matches have seen Raheem Sterling booed during an FA Cup win over Leicester, and Mauricio Pochettino and Boehly abused during a 2-2 draw at Brentford, where the CST noted a “vocal expression” of discontent from many fans.
“Unless the situation improves, this seems likely to manifest itself in more targeted chanting, especially at televised games, and quite possibly more organised, overt, and impactful forms of protest,” the CST wrote. The trust claimed the owners had broken a pledge to only raise prices as a last resort, citing increases: coaches to away games up £53, replica kits up £5, cup tickets up between £1 and £13, and general admission food and drink up 5 to 15 per cent.
Fans are also frustrated by silence over stadium redevelopment plans and uncertainty about season ticket prices. The CST said many supporters fear being “priced out of watching the club they love by above-inflation increases”. In a response, Chelsea chief executive Chris Jurasek said the club “deeply value the dedication, commitment and desire from all our supporters” and will work with the newly established Fan Advisory Board to ensure regular engagement.
