A REQUEST by Chelsea FC for its FA quarter final tie with Middlesbrough to be held behind closed doors has been met with anger by fans.

Middlesbrough FC has responded to  the request, describing it as “bizarre” and “without any merit”.

Piers Morgan also weighed in on Twitter, tweeting his response to Chelsea: “Oh shut up. Why should Middlesbrough fans be punished for your owner’s refusal to condemn his mate’s illegal war?”

Chelsea FC issued a statement today saying it had asked the FA for Saturday’s tie to beheld behind closed doors for matters of "sporting integrity".

The FA will discuss it at a meeting tomorrow (Wednesday).

In response, Middlesbrough FC said: “We are aware of Chelsea's request to have Saturday's Emirates FA Cup sixth round tie played behind closed doors and find their suggestion both bizarre and without any merit whatsoever.

“All concerned are well aware of the reasons Chelsea have been sanctioned and that this has nothing to do with Middlesbrough Football Club.

“To suggest as result that MFC and our fans should be penalised is not only grossly unfair but without any foundation.

“Given the reasons for these sanctions, for Chelsea to seek to invoke sporting ‘integrity’ as reason for the game being played behind closed doors is ironic in the extreme.

“We currently await formal notification from the FA of the next steps but rest assured MFC will resist Chelsea's actions in the strongest terms.”

Andy McDonald, MP for Middlesbrough, described the request as "utterly outrageous".

He said: “The news that that Chelsea Football Club have asked the FA to have their game against Middlesbrough in the FA Cup on Saturday played behind closed doors with no fans is not only a sick joke but fundamentally wrong on so many levels. 

“Boro fans should absolutely not be punished for the consequences of sanction imposed on their owner of nearly 20 years, namely Putin’s puppet Roman Abramovich. 

“Chelsea’s plea is apparently based on the principle of sporting integrity. The lack of self-awareness is mind blowing. This is a club that have enjoyed immense success because of the billions in their owner’s coffers that he stole from the Russian people.  

"Of course, Boro fans should be able to see their team on Saturday. Those Chelsea fans who have already bought tickets should come along and join us in standing with Ukraine. Their demonstration of solidarity would be most welcome and appreciated." 

 

Middlesbrough's chairman Steve Gibson is also reported to have reacted angrily.

He told The Athletic that “Chelsea and sporting integrity do not belong in the same sentence."

 

FA chief executive Mark Bullingham was being grilled by a Digital, Culture, Media and Sport select committee at the time the news broke about Chelsea’s request.

When pushed for a response from the parliamentary panel, he said: “When we step back and look at what the Government is trying to achieve with the sanctions on Mr Abramovich, it’s clearly to put pressure on Mr Putin.

“I don’t believe the intention is to prevent Chelsea fans going to games or away fans to come to Stamford Bridge. It’s incredibly complicated to put a sanction in place at short notice and that will all need working through.

“I think the end-state will be something where the Government lends a licence to allow fans to go to games. I think that hasn’t been possible in time for this weekend.

“What Chelsea are going to do is appeal to the FA Cup committee and that will take a view on what should happen. My personal point of view would be: I would expect the game to go ahead but I can’t say more than that.

“It could prejudice any discussions that are going on at the moment. There’s a due process to be followed and I’m sure they get to the right conclusion. I can’t say more to prejudice the outcome of that proceeding.”

An FA spokesperson said: “We are aware of Chelsea FC’s request to play their Emirates FA Cup Quarter Final tie against Middlesbrough FC behind closed doors. The matter will be discussed at the Professional Game Board meeting tomorrow.”

The full statement by Chelsea

"We are disappointed to announce we will not be able to sell tickets for Saturday’s FA Cup tie at Middlesbrough.

"Despite engaging in extensive discussions with the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI), the deadline to purchase away tickets has passed without appropriate amendments being made to the Government licence which would allow a full allocation of Chelsea supporters to attend.

"Executives at Middlesbrough had been kind enough to extend their deadline for ticket sales and stadium allocation from 7.30pm last night until 9.30am this morning.

"It is important for the competition that the match against Middlesbrough goes ahead, however it is with extreme reluctance that we are asking the FA board to direct that the game be played behind closed doors for matters of sporting integrity.

"Chelsea FC recognises that such an outcome would have a huge impact on Middlesbrough and its supporters, as well as our own fans who have already bought the limited number of tickets that were sold before the licence was imposed, but we believe this is the fairest way of proceeding in the current circumstances."

"We will continue to discuss the issue of ticket sales with OFSI as there are a number of fixtures still to be played this season and we hope to reach a resolution."