Chelsea reversed their decision to request that the match against Middlesbrough be played behind closed doors after discussions with the FA and a lot of backlash.
Chelsea fans could be forgiven for hoping that one day they will be able to focus on football and Champions League progress. Chelsea dropped a bombshell shortly after the conclusion of their press conferences with Thomas Tuchel and Kai Havertz.
The club announced that they were'reluctantly asking the FA board to direct that the game be played behind closed doors for reasons of sporting integrity.' On a day when many were still rooting for the club in the aftermath of Jamie Carragher's remarks and critiques on Monday Night Football, Chelsea displayed a funny way of saying thank you.
Nearly 600 supporters have purchased tickets for the trip to the Riverside and will be permitted to attend under the current license Chelsea is operating under.
It's understandable that more people are unable to do so after discussions with the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation failed to yield results in time for Middlesbrough's deadline. But what exactly did the Blues hope to achieve with their statement?
It could be interpreted as a feeble attempt to coerce the government, but is that really wise when Chelsea supporters are the ones most at risk? If they are successful in their attempt to play the game behind closed doors, they may be relegated to an empty Stamford Bridge until the end of the season.
In their response, the Supporters Trust put it succinctly: "We strongly urge the government to change the license so that supporters can obtain tickets. Supporters are not benefited by playing behind closed doors."
Chelsea is a club that has been given the ability to operate from a position of strength. Off the field, however, that is no longer the case. According to one source, the club may find that much of the goodwill it has received in the last five days has been eroded as a result of their request.
With many discussions with the government about the club being sold and ongoing petitions to add more fans, it appears to be an unnecessary risk to have taken.
The FA and Premier League have expressed their own concerns about sporting integrity, but it's not surprising that the majority of the footballing world agrees with Middlesbrough that the request was 'bizarre and without any merit' and 'ironic in the extreme.'
Chelsea went from thanking Boro to attempting to deny their fans and the Championship club the opportunity to see a highly anticipated FA Cup clash. It was a quick way to make new enemies when you needed friends and support.
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