Chelsea fight 80,000 bots per game and cancel 16,000 memberships
[Getty Images] Chelsea are blocking between 60,000 and 80,000 bots and have suspended 16,000 memberships as part of ongoing efforts to tackle ticket touting. The Blues are among the most targeted clubs in the Premier League and have been affected by sophisticated criminal networks involved in the illegal resale of tickets. There have been attempts to exploit tourists attending matches in a wealthy part of London, alongside supply-and-demand pressures as Chelsea appear to have outgrown the 40,000‑capacity Stamford Bridge.
In addition to rolling out new technology to block bots, Chelsea have increased the number of suspended memberships for misuse to 16,000, up from 5,000 previously. The Blues also say there is a 94% non‑collection rate at ticket collection points for the 1,000 fans per match identified as potentially breaching club policy. Meanwhile, misuse of concessionary tickets has more than halved, most notably in the family stand.
Chelsea say they have invested in "additional resource" to address these issues. However, criticism remains. The Chelsea Supporters' Trust (CST) says co-owner Todd Boehly's continued involvement in running Vivid Seats - which remains listed on the Premier League's unauthorised ticket websites page and sells Chelsea tickets at heavily inflated prices, often to American tourists - "undermines confidence, cuts across the wider fight against ticket touting, and reinforces a growing feeling among supporters that the system is not working in their interests".
Some Chelsea fan groups acknowledge the club's anti-touting measures are having an impact, but the CST has also expressed frustration over Champions League pricing, the membership structure and the ballot system for away matches. Chelsea say they are consulting supporters on how to make the ballot system fairer and have told fans to expect changes next season. A meeting is scheduled for Wednesday to provide further details on pricing and the new ticketing systems.