‘Todd Boehly will have to sell shares now – this is a really bad look for Chelsea’
Todd Boehly has embroiled himself in another controversial situation at Chelsea and could be forced to reposition his business empire.
Blues chairman Boehly is a director of the American ticket resale site Vivid Seats, which facilitates the resale of match tickets at up to £20,000.
In March, the Chelsea Supporters’ Trust sent an open letter to the Premier League, asking them to investigate the 51-year-old’s role in the company – which is unauthorised in the UK.
Premier League chief executive Richard Masters has confirmed that he has written to Chelsea, seeking clarification on the club’s position around ticket resales.
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 revealed his surprise at Boehly’s handling of the situation and claimed a big change could be incoming.
‘Boehly has responsibilities as Chelsea owner’, says Wyness
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Wyness insisted it is a “really bad look” for Chelsea that their owner and chairman has been caught up in yet more controversy.
Since Boehly and BlueCo bought the club from Roman Abramovich for £4.25billion in May 2022, they have divided opinion among Blues fans.
Wyness the US billionaire is likely to have to reposition his shares in Vivid Seats, or sell them completely.
He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “I’m really surprised that Boehly hasn’t somehow divested himself of those shares, repositioned his shares with somebody else to hold them for him.
“I’m surprised he hasn’t handled this because it’s really a minor situation in terms of his business empire, but it’s causing him undue criticism, undue spotlights, and bad PR.
“He may well tell the Premier League: ‘Yes, I’m going to be shifting my ownership’ or ‘I’m going to sell the shares’, or he’s going to make some arrangements so he’s no longer involved in it.
“It’s a really bad look and I think he’s got to try and realise that as an owner of Chelsea and a major Premier League club, he’s got certain responsibilities he’s got to live up to in terms of the way that the games and particularly the ticketing issues are handled.
“I think the Premier League has done the right thing and I think he’s got to do the right thing now, try and make this problem go away by not being involved.”
Chelsea to sign another striker
Meanwhile, Football Insider has exclusively revealed that Chelsea are definitely expected to sign another forward this summer with Christopher Nkunku set to leave the club.
Nkunku has been linked with Man United in recent days and the Blues are ready to facilitate his exit in a move which would free up space for a new out-and-out striker.
Randal Kolo Muani, currently on loan at Juventus but still under contract at Paris Saint-Germain, has emerged as a concrete target for the Stamford Bridge club.
For more Chelsea and exclusive news, follow us on Facebook or join our brand new WhatsApp Channel for instant updates to be sent straight to your phone.