Chelsea supporters have been left ‘absolutely fuming’ after the club increased tickets prices for Jose Mourinho’s Stamford Bridge return next week.
The special one’s appointment as Benfica boss sent fans of the Portuguese club and Blues supporters alike into a frenzy, with the 62-year-old’s first Champions League fixture in his new job coming in west London this Tuesday.
But a host of Chelsea fans have been priced out of a ticket after the club designed the fixture as a Category AA game – meaning adult general tickets cost up to £83.
The category also offers less junior and senior concessions tickets.
The club made the announcement just a week before the clash leaving many frustrated Blues supporters in disbelief.
One fan, David Johnson, told The Telegraph: ‘I am absolutely fuming. And I’m not just fuming because it’s a Chelsea thing. It’s a football thing.
Jose Mourinho returns to Stamford Bridge next week with his new club Benfica
Many Blues fans have however been priced out of a ticket with the game designated as a Category AA fixture
‘These people running football now are absolutely killing it. I haven’t got a problem if people want to pay £10,000 to sit in that dugout club. If they want champagne and bells and whistle, good luck to them.
‘But don’t forget the majority of people who are struggling to pay electricity, gas bills, pay their mortgages, put food on the table, for whom football is the one release at the end of the day, at the end of the week.
‘I’ve got a 12-year-old kid – he’s 12 on Saturday – and I’m having to pay £5 for a ticket for him because I can’t get a kids’ one. In 10 years’ time, he isn’t going to be able to afford to go to a game. It’s shocking.’
He added: ‘They don’t want oiks like me who struggle to get £800 for a season ticket. We’re no good to them. Why’s the atmosphere so rubbish? Because they’re filling it up with tourists.
‘They’d rather have those people paying £70, £80, £90 for an ordinary ticket and going and spending £300 in the megastore and coming once in their life.’
Chelsea previously announced a ticket bundle offer for their four Champions League home fixtures against Benfica, Ajax, Barcelona and Pafos. This was too met with criticism from fans fearing they may be moved from their usual seats.
Commenting on the hike in prices for Tuesday’s game, the Chelsea Supporters Trust said: ‘The Chelsea Supporters Trust is deeply concerned with the club’s handling of ticket sales for upcoming Uefa Champions League fixtures. Recent decisions have been marked by poor communication, unjustifiable price increases and a disregard for supporters.
‘The message is clear – stop exploiting our loyalty.’
Enzo Maresca’s side head into the clash with Benfica after losing their opening European fixture away at Bayern Munich last week.
