Boycott Genk

As Chelsea ask their supporters for a massive £40 a ticket for their UEFA Champions League group stage matches, editor Dean Mears looks into the Chelsea Supporters Group plan to boycott Genk.


I was born at just the right time to be a Chelsea fan, you see because when I was old enough for a season ticket Chelsea were crap. My dad rang up the box office the day before we kicked off our season to Newcastle and was still able to purchase two season tickets, no chance of that now. The season ticket gave us the chance to see all of our Premier League games, FA Cup games and Carling Cup games, so in-fact, the price was very reasonable. Then came Roman, who in turn hired Peter Kenyon, who in turn decided that the season tickets would only be valid for Premier League games, meaning if you wanted the luxury of going to any cup games it would cost you extra.

Kenyon turned Chelsea into a business

Chelsea face Bayer Leverkusen, Genk and Valencia in their three Champions League group games, that's £120 pounds on top of your season ticket. I know I can't afford that, and there are many more like me that won't be able to either. The Vice Chair of the Chelsea Supporters Group (CSG) Michelle Shaw is boycotting all of the home Champions League ties, because she doesn't want to wake up in May realising that she can't afford her season ticket anymore. The idea behind the 'Boycott Genk' plan is to make the club understand that gate receipts are equally important as the millions they receive in advertising and television rights, urging fans to remember Rosenborg. In Jose Mourinho's last game in charge against Rosenborg the club asked for similar prices, the attendance was just under 25,000, the remaining games were priced down at £25 pounds.


One of Chelsea's opponents, Bayer Leverkusen are subsidising their 2,000 tickets and have priced them at 20 Euro's each. Expect Bayer to sell out in the first game, and Chelsea struggle making it feel more like an away game. In fact, a lot of English clubs could take a leaf out of Germany's book. They have safe standing area's where no one gets hurt because they are organised properly, their season tickets are less than half of that of most Premier League clubs (Bayer most expensive season ticket is 540 Euro's, it would cost you £1250 pounds for a seat in Chelsea's West Upper), why can't a club as rich as Chelsea make it easier for the majority of their fan base, who just don't have that sort of extra money to pay out.


I fully applaud 'Boycott Genk', however I believe it should start with Bayer and continue until the club realise that their fans aren't as rich as they board. Ticket prices in this country have become a joke and it's time that the FA stood up to the Premier League and demand prices are reduced, believe me, clubs would see the benefit in the long run. Clubs will charge fans as much as they can if they continue to buy the tickets, so don't feel like you have no choice, stand up and be counted. Chelsea Supporters Group, I salute you.