Chelsea fans in civil war as Fan Advisory Board accuse Supporters’ Trust of seeking 'chaos and division'

The FAB have urged against “attacks and campaigns” after a damning letter sent by the CST to Blues co-owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali
Nizaar Kinsella25 March 2024

Division among Chelsea supporters has taken a new twist after the club’s Fan Advisory Board (FAB) criticised a letter released by the Chelsea Supporters’ Trust (CST) last week.

The CST this month hit out at co-owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali and warned they risk the threat of "irreversible toxicity" if the situation at Stamford Bridge does not improve.

In a damning 1,500-word letter sent to Boehly and Eghbali, the CST said the club was “at its lowest since the early 1980s”.

Chelsea were warned they face "organised and impactful forms of protest" from fans who feel the club has become a “laughing stock”.

The FAB, an initiative set up by the Boehly-Clearlake consortium comprising of seven supporters who sit in on board meetings, on Monday released a statement defending the owners and making it clear that they do not agree with certain points made by the CST.

The statement said: “We don’t recognise the suggestion that fans are not being involved in the future of the club. This goes directly against our experience. So we wanted to set the record straight.

“Supporters are able to contact the FAB board members directly via the club website and the FAB hold regular in-person drop-in sessions at Stamford Bridge.

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"At the last main board meeting (on March 11th), Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali directly (and in person) asked the FAB to help shape the club’s proposals in relation to ticketing and we have been working on exactly that.

“We have had multiple sessions with club executives to work through potential proposals and provided with data to help substantiate any potential changes.

"The idea that fans are not involved and not at a decision-making level, could not be further from the truth.

"The club is aware that, while the FAB is constructive and understands the realities, we are also challenging. We make our views known forcefully. We achieve real change. We work and will continue to work on the relationship.

“Significantly more resources have been allocated to fan liaison than at any point in the club’s history.

"Finally, we would like to add this. Chelsea’s men’s team is part way through a season with much to play for. We will soon return to Wembley. We want to rise up the table, with the European places in touching distance.

We have to get behind our team and make our contribution to victory rather than seek chaos and division through attacks and campaigns

Chelsea Fan Advisory Board

“We have exciting young players with real green shoots of improvement in the men’s first team following significant investment. In addition, our women’s team continues to thrive domestically and on the European stage in Emma Hayes’ final season.

"Football is a matter of opinion and expressing emotion is part of that. But we have to get behind our team and make our contribution to victory rather than seek chaos and division through attacks and campaigns.

"Every Chelsea fan (including the ownership group) is frustrated at setbacks or results that don’t go our way. But the team and the club more broadly needs its supporters.

“The only people who benefit from Chelsea fans turning on Chelsea are fans of other clubs. If we’re pulling in the same direction then ‘every little thing’s gonna be alright’."

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