Chelsea owners slammed by fans in open letter ahead of planned protest

FootballSports
16 Apr 2026 • 11:23 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

Chelsea owners slammed by fans in open letter ahead of planned protest

  • The Chelsea Supporters’ Trust (CST) has written an open letter expressing a “lack of confidence” in the club’s owners, BlueCo, and citing an “erosion of trust” regarding the team’s direction.
  • Fan protests are scheduled before Saturday’s home match against Manchester United at Stamford Bridge, following a turbulent season on and off the pitch.
  • Chelsea reported record pre-tax losses of £262.4m for the last financial year, having spent approximately £1.5bn on transfer fees since BlueCo took ownership in 2022.
  • The CST’s concerns are not solely about short-term results but relate to the club’s “underlying direction”, lack of clarity on its long-term plan, and inconsistent execution.
  • A joint protest with supporters of French club Strasbourg, also owned by BlueCo, will take place, highlighting broader issues with the multi-club ownership model.

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