STAMFORD BRIDGE – If you were to position yourselves as the moral arbiters of who should and should not be allowed to own your football club, you would probably want to avoid singing Roman Abramovich’s name.
So too, if your main objection to the proposed new owners in question is the emergence of historic Islamophobic and racist comments and correspondence, would you want to avoid allowing a smattering of the crowd to break into chants about Tottenham, y-word included.
The majority who attended a protest outside Stamford Bridge before the 4-1 defeat to Brentford were well-meaning supporters wanting to make a statement about the future of their club. By the end of the afternoon, they felt like a team in crisis on the pitch as well as off it, but here was a group of fans doing their utmost – in fact, all they feasibly can do – to stop Chelsea falling into the wrong hands.
One placard delivered the charge sheet against members of the family, not all of whom will play an active part in the bid:
- Pete – anti-LGBT (opposed same-sex marriage and once said: “My sister is gay, but I disagree with her on this issues”)
- Todd – Called Covid “kung flu”
- Joe – Islamophobic (In a 2019 e-mail, he described Muslims as “the enemy” and has called Islam a “cult” – the Ricketts family have since denounced these comments)
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Boehly, Broughton or the Ricketts family? The candidates still in contention to buy Chelsea25 March, 2022One fan told me they were protesting because they consider the Ricketts “prejudiced”. Another said “we don’t want racists here”, while one took objection to their running of the Chicago Cubs: “Even if they bring in money, will they put it back into the club?” What makes a good owner is a debate that should matter to every Premier League club, but nowhere is it more pertinent than here in west London after the last 19 years.
This was nowhere near the show of strength Chelsea fans put together in objection to the European Super League, in fact it was closer to 100 fans. Perhaps back then the threat was more imminent, and it was existential, not about identity and values. There are no guarantees that the Ricketts will even buy Chelsea, and we likely won’t know more until the 11 April deadline.
i understands that the Ricketts were aware the protests were set to take place, but still believe they can temper the strength of feeling against their potential takeover.
There is a concern, among the Ricketts’ opponents, that they have been given preferential treatment, hence one of the most prominent signs: “Buck off”, a reference to Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck who reportedly organised a meeting between the family and Paul Canoville, the club’s first black player who had expressed his opposition to the takeover.
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From the many right-minded fans in attendance, many of whom have held their reservations about the origins of Abramovich’s vast wealth long before he was sanctioned by the UK Government, the message was loud and clear. “No to racism no to Islamophobia, no to Ricketts”. To a family with links to Donald Trump’s presidential campaign, and whose numerous gaffes have been well-publicised since news of their interest emerged, “you’re not wanted here”.
Thomas Tuchel had given him their blessing. “Nowadays you have to deal with it and you have to face the consequences if you are responsible for these kind of quotes,” he said before the game.
“You have to face the consequences. If one of the consequences is that the fans do a protest or give their opinions you have to deal with it.”
CST Survey Results
— Chelsea Supporters’ Trust
72% currently do not have confidence that the Ricketts family would run an inclusive & successful club
77% do not support the Ricketts family’s bid
The CST does not currently believe it is in the best interests of our members for the Ricketts bid to succeed. pic.twitter.com/miVQWqChNW(@ChelseaSTrust) April 2, 2022
The consensus is indisputable too. A poll conducted by the Chelsea Supporters’ Trust revealed 77 per cent of fans do not support the bid, with 72 per cent saying they did not have confidence in the Ricketts running an “inclusive and successful” club. Those two characteristics must go hand in hand, and the majority is sweeping.
Maybe then it is best to ignore the continued boasts about the trophies bankrolled by Abramovich – “look at my frozen assets”, read one sign featuring Chelsea’s various triumphs, including the most recent Club World Cup. Best too to dismiss the brief tirades against Three network, the club’s former sponsor who cut ties in the light of the Abramovich news and asked Chelsea to stop playing with their logo on their shirts.
For now, Tuchel will have other questions to answer – and for sure, he has some footballing matters to address ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid. His side have just been stunned at home in a result that echoed West Brom’s famous 5-2 victory at Stamford Bridge in April 2021.
At least Chelsea fans have done their part. The Ricketts, should they be successful in their bid, will have work to do with one of the country’s great community clubs if they are to allay these fears and prevent further unrest.
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