Chelsea raises ticket prices for Mourinho’s return, angering fans

Chelsea fans express frustration about the unprecedented ticket price increase for the Champions League game versus Benfica, which signifies Mourinho’s return to Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea recently announced that the Champions League match against Benfica will be classified as Category AA, forcing adults to pay up to £83 (nearly 3 million VND), while discounted tickets for children and seniors are significantly limited. The announcement came just one week before the game, leaving many fans unprepared and feeling abandoned.

Daniel Finkelstein, the club director, defended the decision on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), explaining: "The club needs revenue to stay competitive." Meanwhile, although Raheem Sterling is no longer part of coach Enzo Maresca’s plans, he earns £300,000 weekly, and the club has yet to secure a shirt sponsor. He emphasized: "This ticket price increase is for Chelsea’s benefit."

This reasoning immediately triggered strong backlash from fans. One supporter commented: "Raising ticket prices won’t help Chelsea compete. No shirt sponsor for three years, losing £60 million annually, totaling £180 million—that’s what the club needs to compete, not the £2 million from fans. Sterling earns that amount in three months."

Another fan questioned: "Increasing tickets by £20 won’t make Chelsea competitive. Why should fans tighten their belts to watch their beloved club while the club wastes money year after year?"

Many fans also expressed frustration about Chelsea lacking a shirt sponsor: "We are terrible at attracting sponsors. A shirt sponsor would bring in far more than squeezing current fans." Another supporter shared: "They don’t want people like me who struggle to save £800 for a season ticket. We have no value to them. Why is the atmosphere bad? Because they fill the stadium with tourists."

David Johnstone, a fan, described the price hike as "shocking": "I’m extremely angry. Not just about Chelsea, but football in general. I have a 12-year-old child and had to pay £50 for their ticket because there’s no child ticket. In the next ten years, they won’t be able to afford to watch a match."

Previously, Chelsea announced ticket packages for four home Champions League matches against Benfica, Ajax, Barcelona, and Pafos, but faced criticism as fans feared being relocated from their usual seats. Chelsea Supporters’ Association said: "The message is clear - stop exploiting our loyalty."

While raising ticket prices, Chelsea under Todd Boehly owns the world’s most expensive squad, with total costs exceeding £1 billion, including signings like Enzo Fernandez (£105 million), Moises Caicedo (£115 million), Wesley Fofana (£70 million), and Mykhailo Mudryk (£89 million). Last summer alone, the club spent £212 million on 11 new players.

The decision to increase ticket prices for Mourinho’s reunion game shows Chelsea is capitalizing economically on a special event, but it also leaves many longtime fans feeling neglected and outraged.