A New Low For The Blues
By: Jack | February 29th, 2008
Chelsea has taken the totally nondiscriminatory step of banning those with Greek surnames from attending Wednesday’s Champions League second leg with Olympiacos.
“Non-members of a Greek nationality buying tickets for the Olympiacos game will have their orders canceled,” Chelsea’s website said Friday.
A statement from the club said these measures were taken out of the fear that “large numbers” of Olympiakos fans would attempt to purchase tix through Chelsea’s official website because they would be unable to get a seat in the away section.
“Chelsea Football Club has discretion to put measures in place to ensure segregation,” added a Police spokesperson.
Thoughts on this? I mean, it seems pretty straight forward to me. This is wrong; even borderline racist. Say they have some sort of inside information regarding Olympiacos fans, it’s still wrong. I love my club but to say I’m disappointed would be a supreme understatement.
 |
EPL Match Schedule |  |
 |
Discount Travel to London & Chelsea |
| Chelsea Scores |  | Stamford Bridge information & hotels |
Category: Chelsea Team News
Subscribe
|
Print
|
Share
      |
Comments
-
I’m from the states, so I don’t pretend to know much about ticketing policies in the UK, plus I’m not a Chelsea fan, but this seems bad…like really bad. Understandable that crowd control will be an issue, but…segregating by ethnicity…and calling it segregation…Jim Crow moved to London.
Posted from
United States
-
Jack,I posted a tirade on the other article so I’ll spare everyone that again. I’ll just I give you credit for calling out your club on something that’s really bad — not only ethically, but from a business perspective. Chelsea is trying to market itself as the “world’s biggest club” internationally. How does this look?
anywho…”Jim Crow moved to London…” well put Django.Posted from
United States -
Yeah, calling this “borderline” racist may be a bit kind. This is a completely unacceptable policy, and as mctalian said, it’s also a really dumb business move. Really sad choice made by a club that should know better.
Posted from
United States -
So I take it then… you would be happy to see it ‘kick off’ inside Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night and Chelsea having to play future home European games behind closed doors?
KTBFFH
Posted from
United States -
As a Greek Chelsea fan, I can tell you guys that Olympiakos fans are animals and deserve to be segregated. They misbehave every Athens Derby, and believe me they deserve all they’re getting. But then again, I am quite biased, lol.
Posted from
United States -
Makes sense to me, actually.
I mean, when English fans traveled to Rome, they got stabbed.
Thing like that a a disgrace to humanity, nevermind football. So clubs should do anything in their power to prevent bad things from happening. If it comes down to something like this to prevent the Olmpiakos fans from buying tickets in a Chelsea section then so be it. Football stadiums are one place in this world where segregation is a good thing.Posted from
United States -
I have to say that this type of policy should be imposed regardless of any business considerations taken on board.
Chelsea have a long history of hooliganism and, although this has been largely stamped out in this Country, other leagues are still far behind and supporters from these clubs will still see the Blues as a ’scalp’ if they could get to them.
Fair play Chelsea, I don’t think any of us should be ashamed with the actions our club has taken to avoid confrontation inside the stadium tomorrow night.Posted from
United Kingdom -
so…….i guess i should change my last name to McMillanopolous?
when Olympiakos came to Anfield a few years back (you know, when we won it for the fifth time) we didn’t have any problems or racist policies .. i don’t see who it’s going to “kick off” with .. the suits? Roman can probably steam a greek or two ..
Posted from
Canada -
Yeah and don’t you just love banging on about it.
That’s the thing though Steven you never know what is going to happen until it is too late so taking necessary steps to avoid trouble is appropriate and Chelsea are well within their rights to impose these restrictions on ‘non members’. If a member of Chelsea from Greek origins wanted to buy a ticket for tonights match the club would not stand in their way. Chelsea were just worried over the possibility of bulk buying in the home end for tonights match by potential Greek hooligans.
Two hundred Chelsea fan wouldn’t get away with buying tickets in the Kop for a game against you lot and I doubt you would appreciate it if we could, there’s no difference.
So get off your high-horse sonshine.Posted from
United Kingdom -
come on now FreeBet, where’s that famous english sense of humor? give me a smile ..
Posted from
Canada -
Ha ha, fair enough Steve! I think I’m just pissed right off with the amount of stick we get week in week out just for sticking the ball in the back of the net the wrong way! Oh the good old days when no-one actually care.
Que sera sera hey?Posted from
United Kingdom -
Steven - a Greek with a scouse accent??
Anyway I deliberately put myself in front of the Olympiakos top boys on Wednesday night - well they were wearing ‘hooligan’ on the back of their jackets and they were like pussy cats!!! And there were boys above me in the West Stand - once we went 1-0 up they soon disappeared.
But kudos to the 3,500 Olympiakos fans in the Shed. Quality, respect and they showed US UP in how to support a team - but we always do it when we go away and we will do the job at Barnsley on Saturday.
Posted from
United States -
The boys really did make a bit of a racket on Saturday, shame about the result in the end though, just hope that we can bounce back from the defeat on Wednesday against Derby.
With regards to the Olypiakos game, I was there and to be honest I think that the majority of the support were a disgrace. The Matty Harding gave there best as per usual but we were totally outsung and we had more than ten times their numbers.Posted from
United Kingdom -
I was there at Barnsley on Saturday and after the criticism Chelsea fans received from the Wembley tragedy we gave it our all. We turned up shame most of the players didn’t!!!
Roll on Wednesday and back to my normal seat in the MHL and singing…. FCUK the prawn sandwich eaters!!!
Posted from
United States -
What a result midweek, I know it’s only Derby and being the club we are we should have got that result with our eyes closed but the lads played an absolute stormer and we truly deserved the six goals, at least. Shame about the goal we conceded, the defending was lapse but apart from that we looked solid.
What was the atmosphere was like on Wednesday then?Posted from
United Kingdom
Comments are closed
Home 
