Chelsea face ‘serious questions’ after controversial Todd Boehly payment
Chelsea chairman Todd Boehly continues to be an unpopular figure with at the club despite significant investment made since he and Clearlake took over in 2022.
In recent weeks, Boehly’s involvement in American site Vivid Seats has caused unrest in the Chelsea fanbase.
The US billionaire is a director at Vivid, which facilitates the resale of Premier League match tickets at up to £20,000.
Chelsea’s latest accounts revealed the company made a £93,000 payment to the club – listed under “transactions with related parties”.
Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – has insisted Boehly has to be “more responsible” and consider the “PR implications” of his involvements outside of Chelsea.
‘Boehly must distance Chelsea from controversial Vivid Seats connection’
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Wyness insisted Chelsea would face “serious questions” if the money came from “illegal ticket touting”.
The Blues have condemned ticket holders who sold on their seats for a profit last year – and threatened to remove season passes and memberships.
Wyness told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “I’ve seen it explained away as them having some kind of sponsorship level for a pre-season tour.
“That could account for the payment to Chelsea.
“Certainly, there would be serious questions to be asked if this is money coming back into the club from what is basically illegal ticket touting.
“We’ve got to be clear on that, but if it’s just sponsorship – that’s a sensible explanation.
“I would think that Chelsea want to be as far away as possible from Vivid Seats right now.
“Mr Boehly needs to think twice about the PR implications of this, and be a bit more responsible with what he’s doing.”
Major update on Maresca sack from Chelsea
Meanwhile, Football Insider has revealed (11 April) that Chelsea are unlikely to sack Enzo Maresca at the end of the season despite growing speculation about his future.
| Position | Team | Played | Points | GD |
| 4 | Nottingham Forest | 32 | 57 | 13 |
| 5 | Man City | 32 | 55 | 20 |
| 6 | Chelsea | 32 | 54 | 17 |
| 7 | Aston Villa | 32 | 54 | 3 |
| 8 | Bournemouth | 32 | 48 | 12 |
The 45-year-old is part of the long-term plans at Stamford Bridge as they aim to establish some stability.
Chelsea sit sixth in the Premier League table and could win the Uefa Conference League next month.
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