Social media is often the last resort of Chelsea fans looking to buy tickets for upcoming games.
Whilst there are genuine sellers it is also rife with Chelsea ticket scams that look to rip off genuine fans and take advantage of the huge demand for tickets.
We do not recommend buying tickets from social media, however if you do here are some red flags to look out for to avoid the scams.
Chelsea Ticket Scam Red Flag 1 – Paypal Friends & Family
This is a common tactic by scammers as if you pay via friends and family on Paypal you do not have any buyer protection, something that you would have if you select goods and services.
Therefore do not pay for any tickets using Paypal Friends & Family.
Chelsea Ticket Scam Red Flag 2 – Ticket Details Don’t Add Up
Scammers are usually not fans and may not know as much about the club and the ticket buying process as you do. This can lead to small errors in what they send as proof they have the tickets and what they provide.
The simplest mistake we have seen is the use of the wrong names for the stands or being unable to explain where the seat is in the ground.
Chelsea Ticket Scam Red Flag 3 – Ticket Barcode Missing
Chelsea Football Club no longer issue fans with paper tickets for games. Instead they send a PDF of a ticket with a barcode that will give you entry to the game.
If the ticket they are showing you does not have a barcode (even if it is blacked out for security) then it is unlikely to be a genuine ticket.
Chelsea Ticket Scam Red Flag 4 – Evasive Seller
The best protection you have against scammers is a proven and verifiable track record of selling tickets in the past or a profile and personal information that makes sense.
Ask potential sellers if any Chelsea fans can vouch for them and get them to provide as much personal information as possible. If it does not add up then do not take the risk.
Chelsea Ticket Scam Red Flag 5 – Too Good To Be True
If someone is selling a ticket and it feels too good to be true or your gut tells you something does not feel right, then we recommend you either do not buy the ticket or accept that there is a high risk you will be left dissapointed.
It is getting harder for fans, even members to get Chelsea tickets through official channels.
This increase in demand combined with the abolition of printed tickets at the box office means that there has been a marked increase in the number of Chelsea ticket scams we are seeing on social media.
The ticket scammers are hard at work trying to convince you to part with your cash, whilst this article does not constitute legal advice, we hope sharing our experience will help you avoid being scammed.
Buy Direct From The Club
We strongly recommend that you buy your tickets from the club directly.
The easiest way to do this is to become a Chelsea True Blue Member and keep an eye out for when tickets go on sale to members. Whilst this method is not guaranteed and demand is high, it is the most effective way to ensure you are getting a genuine ticket for the game.
Being a member will also give you access to the Chelsea ticket exchange where season ticket holders that cannot attend can get a rebate from the club for putting their ticket on the exchange.
The ticket exchange usually opens between 10 days and two weeks before each home Premier League game and can be a great way to snag a ticket after the club officially sells out.
Join A Supporters Club
If you live outside the UK find the nearest official supporters club near you and consider joining.
Supporters clubs get exclusive access to tickets and you will have a ready-made community of Blues fans local to you to guide you through the process.
If you live in the United States we highly recommend Chelsea In America, they help thousands of fans make a pilgrimage to Stamford Bridge each year.
If you are unable to get tickets from approved sources then here are some things to consider to avoid Chelsea ticket scams.
Check The Face Value Of The Tickets Offered
Ticket touting, scalping or flipping for profit is illegal in the United Kingdom, so whether you are buying via a website, the street or via social media any tickets being sold above face value should be treated with extreme caution.
We will never recommend any of these channels as they are all high risk, even if you take all reasonable precautions.
Work The Loyalty Point Game
It is permissible for fans to sell tickets at face value if they are unable to attend.
This is becoming increasingly more common as fans purchase tickets to stay ahead of the loyalty point system.
The way this works is that each game is attributed a number of loyalty points depending on the expected demand for tickets. Tickets for high-demand games are sold first to those with the highest number of loyalty points accrued during the season.
It is now common for season ticket holders and members to buy tickets for games they do not attend and sell them on at face value to maximise the number of loyalty points they accrue.
This maximises the chance of getting tickets for high-demand games particularly away trips and cup finals.
This makes it worth knowing season ticket holders and members who might be able to help secure you tickets on their account for games they do not want to/cannot attend.
Tread Carefully On Social Media
These tickets are also offered up on social media and there are a number of different groups and communities where genuine transactions take place regularly.
Unfortunately, these are also a ripe target for scammers who pose as real fans with fake tickets.
It is important that if you choose this route you vet purchasers carefully and where possible get another member of the community to vouch for people.
Be Wary Of Tickets Being Sold Multiple Times
Chelsea Football Club no longer issue fans with paper tickets for games. Instead, they send a PDF of a ticket with a barcode that will give you entry to the game.
This is problematic for being buying from outside official channels as it makes it possible for tickets to be sold multiple times by scammers without the purchaser being able to protect themselves or verify the veracity of the ticket.
It leads to the very real possibility of you buying a ticket, trying to get in via the turnstiles and being turned away as the barcode has already been used by another person to gain access to the stadium.
It really is a minefield now
Learn The Scammer Red Flags
If you are buying from social media here are some of the red flags we have identified
Wants you to pay via Paypal friends and family (not goods and services)
Stand name listed on the ticket is incorrect
The ticket number does not match the right block
The ticket does not have a barcode
Buyer is evasive and unwilling to share personal info you can verify
You Cannot Buy Secondary Tickets For European Away Games
No matter what the potential scammer says, it is not possible for you to buy a ticket in the away end of a Chelsea Champions League game on the secondary market.
The reason for this is that the club introduced a policy after the Paris St Germain metro incident where all tickets need to be collected in the city of the game by the person named on the ticket. Proof of ID via passport being required before the tickets are handed over.
If you are offered an away ticket for a Champions League game it is almost 100% going to be a scam.
Despite having only made a brief cameo appearance against Everton for his debut there is already a Chelsea Cucurella song being sung by the away fans at Goodison.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tSwAAln-GE
Chelsea Cucurella Song Lyrics
The Chelsea Cucurella song goes something like this
Thomas Tuchel appeared to be Chelsea’s new special one, of which they have had many since 2004. However, he came with the German tactic revolution that is sweeping over European football, a stellar combination of movement, pressing and intensity.
Chelsea began to tail off after Christmas despite playing some attractive football. However, the end of the season has been disappointing as they have been dragged into a top-four race with Arsenal and Spurs. With Manchester City and Liverpool still a level above, how can Chelsea improve next season?
Integrate Romelu Lukaku
On the back of winning the Champions League last season, Chelsea signed Serie A-winning striker Romelu Lukaku who appeared to be the missing piece of the puzzle. What promised to be a three-horse race quickly deteriorated as the season went on. Liverpool and Manchester City are vying for the title in the final few games, with Premiership winner odds currently favouring The Citizens at 1/20.
Lukaku came to Chelsea as a returning prodigal son of Pogba proportions, but it seems to have gone a similar route, with relationships with the manager and fans collapsing fast. The Belgian was the Serie A top scorer last year and appeared to have brought the goalscorer edge that the Blues needed, scoring three in his opening four games. However, after the infamous interview that was released in December, where he expressed an interest in rejoining Inter Milan, his form has been horrendous, scoring five goals since his early burst.
What has gone wrong is that Tuchel’s trust in the striker appears to have dwindled. Lukaku’s lack of movement, holdup and interchangeable play that the other attacking options offer became a problem to the cohesiveness of the forwards. Tuchel needs to find a way to integrate the Belgian striker and get the most out of their significant investment if Chelsea hope to improve next season.
Replace Antonio Rudiger
Rudiger has been monumental to Chelsea at the back since signing, particularly in the last two seasons. However, he has signed a pre-contract with Real Madrid and will be leaving next year. In the three-man backline, he leaves a massive hole, where his defensive presence and ball-playing ability were crucial to how Tuchel’s side played.
Speculation also surrounds Cesar Azpilicueta’s future, but Tuchel would be wise to hold onto the Spaniard, having also lost Andreas Christensen, even if it’s just for his experience in the locker room. With such a mass exodus threatening one of the best defences in the Premier League, Tuchel needs to promote from within or have astute signings to ensure his side stays rock solid.
Trust the Process
What Tuchel has proven over the years from all of his managerial stints is that he is capable of building cohesive and devastating teams. His personality can sometimes come across as overbearing, but he is the best manager the Blues have had since Antonio Conte. If Chelsea wants to build something remarkable, they have to give a manager more than two or three years. Yes, they have won many trophies in the last 15 years, but if they want to contend consistently rather than in four-year cycles, they need to lay foundations that can last, which can be seen at Liverpool and City.
Despite rumours and being the rock of the Thomas Tuchel defence – currently Antonio Rudiger has not signed a new Chelsea contract for the 2022/23 season and beyond.
It is reported that Rudiger whose Chelsea contract expires in the summer of 2022 has rejected at least one offer from the Chelsea board.
The reasons for this are not fully known however, his lack of game time under Frank Lampard and a desire to get a maximum payout from his last big contract are the most likely sources of friction. Particularly as his impressive form for Thomas Tuchel has seen the German linked with Barcelona and Real Madrid.
3rd February 2022 – Antonio Rudiger posts a cryptic Instagram message
Has Antonio Rudiger Signed A New Chelsea Contract = NO (But He Might)
On the 3rd of February Rudiger posted the below on Instagram, with a cryptic post entitled #hustle hinting that he might already or be about to sign a new deal.
The inclusion of Chelsea prominently in the video suggests he might be about to sign. Which would be awesome for the club, given how amazing he has been under Thomas Tuchel.
As the battle to narrow the gap at the top of the Premier League table continues, Chelsea are starting to see the rise in form of individual players.
With the Blues also in the mix to retain their Champions League title this season, the competition for places can only be a good thing for manager Thomas Tuchel.
Ziyech Showing True Colours
After what has been a somewhat stop-start first chapter of his Chelsea career, Hakim Ziyech appears to be finding the form that made him such an exciting prospect when he signed from Ajax in 2020. Injuries and dips in form have meant consistency has been an issue since his arrival at Stamford Bridge, but the Moroccan international is starting to get back to his best.
Chelsea, who are currently priced at odds of 43/5 in the Champions League odds from Betfair to retain their European crown, will be hoping Ziyech can continue his form going into their next games in the competition against Lille. Many Champions League tips will expect the Blues to challenge, come the business end of the tournament, and Ziyech looks like he could play a role in helping Chelsea reach the final in St Petersburg on May 28th.
The 28-year-old has put his injury woes behind him and now expectations have returned: whenever Ziyech gets the ball, there’s the very real anticipation that he’s going to do something magic with it.
There was certainly interest in him during the January transfer window, with Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich and London rivals Tottenham Hotspur being linked with the attacking midfielder. The interest from Bayern clearly shows that they have also seen the improvement in Ziyech, and the fact Chelsea kept him can only be a positive for Tuchel going forward.
Sarr on The Rise
Another player who looks to be taking his opportunities in the first-team since making his Premier League debut against Brentford is rising star Malang Sarr. The 23-year-old joined from Nice back in 2020 and, after a loan spell in Portugal at Porto, is now challenging for first-team action in West London.
Sarr has been used as cover for injuries, but when he has been called upon the France under-21 international has stood up well to the challenges that have been put in his path. The defender impressed as a left-back in the semi-final second-leg against Spurs, before going on to start the top of the table clash against Man City. While Chelsea lost the encounter 1-0 against the Citizens, Sarr once again held his own in a high-pressure environment.
Again there was interest in Sarr over the January window, with the likes of West Ham, Newcastle, Everton and Leicester City all linked with the defender’s services. Tuchel was not willing to lose Sarr and now it looks like the player has a bright future ahead of him and will put pressure on those stars ahead of him in the pecking order at Chelsea.
Competition for places drives up standards and the rise of the likes of Ziyech and Sarr will come as a welcomed sight as Chelsea continue in the defence of their European crown.
The list of Chelsea Player of the Year Goalkeepers contains just five names making up the list. The first winner was Peter Bonetti in 1967 (the first year of the award) and the last was Petr Cech in 2011.
List Of Goalkeepers Named Chelsea Player Of The Year
Player Name
Year Of Award
Peter Bonetti
1967
Petar Borata
1981
Eddie Niedzwiecki
1986
Carlo Cudicini
2002
Petr Cech
2011
Why Do Goalkeepers Rarely Win Chelsea Player Of The Year
Despite a keeper winning the award on average only one time in ten, the first Chelsea Player of the Year (CPOY) was actually a goalkeeper. The award that year won by Chelsea legend Peter Bonetti.
It would be more than a decade until the next goalkeeper won the award and the results have been patchy ever since. This is most likely due to fans remembering goals and assists over match winning saves. It really does take something for the goalkeeper to make the headlines or win man of the match, let alone the season.
It is possible that this is the reason why the 1980’s were such a good decade for goalkeepers in the CPOY stakes. The club has a turbulent decade of relegations and promotions almost dropping into the third tier at one point!
It is tough times that give goalkeepers the opportunity to become cult heroes.
The 80’s saw two goalkeepers win the prize with Petar Borata (1981) and Eddie Niedzwiecki (1986) both scooping the award.
There was however a huge gap between Niedzwiecki and the next goalkeeper to win the award. More than 16 years passing before Carlo Cudicini was recognised for his excellent form and position as a fan favourite.
Will Edouard Mendy Be Next
Our current goalkeeper Edouard Mendy has been a revelation since joining the club in 2020.
He was awesome on the run to the Champions League trophy, and has somehow stepped it up even further in 2021/22. It seems that if he keeps this up he is destined to become just the sixth goalkeeper to win the award. His departure to the African Cup Of Nations (AFCON) may make it harder to achieve this year, but I would not bet against him doing it in the future.
The first Chelsea player of the year was Peter Bonetti.
The legendary goalkeeper won the inaugural award in 1967 and is one of just five goalkeepers to have won in the award. A true Chelsea legend he played for the club between 1960 and 1979 and is the club’s second-highest appearance maker of all time.
Who Was The First Chelsea Player Of The Year
Peter Bonetti was a Chelsea academy graduate who made his debut in 1960 and spent 19 years at Stamford Bridge.
Bonetti is one of the most iconic players to play for Chelsea. Nicknamed the “Cat” he made a mammoth 729 appearances during two spells with the Blues. During that time he was one of the most talented goalkeepers in the country.
Unfortunately, he shared a generation with Gordon Banks meaning that he only received 7 caps for his country. He played in the 1970 World Cup and was part of the 1966 squad but did not play a game during England’s successful campaign. He did eventually get a medal though, awarded in 2009 after a long-running campaign for the entire Cup-winning squad to be recognised.
The “Cat” also spent time playing in the USA, after being released by Chelsea on a free transfer he joined the St Louis Stars in 1975 before returning to Chelsea the same year to help rebuild the club under new manager Eddie McCreadie.
The Cat’s Chelsea Rollercoaster
During his time at the club Bonetti experienced the rollercoaster that is Chelsea Football Club.
He saw the club rise and fall on more than one occasion, played with some of our greatest ever players and watched the club sink towards mediocrity.
During his time he got promoted, relegated, won trophies, and lost finals experiencing almost every emotion.
Trophies Won – League Cup (1965) FA Cup (1970) , European Cup Winners Cup (1971)
Standing at Stamford Bridge returned after nearly 28 years against Liverpool with rail seating in the Shed End and the Matthew Harding Lower.
Hopefully, this will help boost the matchday atmosphere and bring back some of the positive spirit of the terraces whilst leaving behind the bad.
A return to safe standing at Stamford Bridge has involved years of campaigning from fan groups and many false dawns but now standing is allowed in the entire Shed End and the Matthew Harding Lower.
Fans will still have an allocated seat, but they will now have a choice as to whether they use it.
Why Was Standing Banned?
The Hillsborough Disaster in 1989 was responsible for the tragic death of 97 football fans.
It led to the launch of a full investigation, the outcome of which was the Taylor Report.
The report recommended that stadiums should be converted to an all-seater model and that all ticketed spectators should have allocated seats.
Whilst the report did not say that standing was unsafe the government legislated that no standing would be allowed.
A deadline of August 1994 set for clubs in the Premier League and Championship to comply.
On the 7th of May 1994 Chelsea faced Sheffield United in the last game before the new regulations became law and the Shed End terracing was closed to be rebuilt, with modern seating, concourses, and overzealous stewards.
Impact On The Stamford Bridge Atmosphere
Whilst some of these changes were for the better, the removal of standing had a negative impact on atmospheres across the Premier League.
The cause for this was the introduction of allocated seating making it harder for fans to congregate and the way that standing makes fans feel more involved in the action and is far more conducive to singing and generating atmosphere.
Whilst an allocated seat is important for safety and crowd control, the desire for fans to stand whilst watching football has never disappeared.
If you have been to watch Chelsea at an away game out of the watch of home stewards’ fans watch the entire game standing. After a few years of trying to enforce seating on away fans most clubs simply gave up.
At home fans in the lower tiers of the Shed End and Matthew Harding Lower have spent the last twenty years doing battle with stewards trying to enforce rules against standing.
Maybe the tolerance of standing will see a better relationship with fans and stewards who can focus on things that will actually keep fans safe.
The Long Road To Safe Standing
A return to partial standing has made sense from day one, but it has taken a long time to get there.
The campaign to get seating back has been a long one that has brought fans across the country together. Fan groups including the Football Supporters Association have coordinated, lobbied and campaigned for nearly 32 years before we reached this point.
The challenge being for fans to convince their clubs, the Premier League and the government that there was a safe version of standing. This was a painstaking journey and we tip our hats to all those that fought the good fight.
Whilst allocated seating is a must in modern stadia, the introduction of rail seating is a huge coup for fans and should help revive atmospheres.
Will Safe Standing At Stamford Bridge Bring The Atmosphere Back
The introduction to safe standing is a great victory for supporters and should in theory lead to more fan involvement and a better atmosphere. For those not wanting to stand they will still be able to sit in the West, East or Matthew Harding Upper stands. (see our list of best place to sit at Stamford Bridge)
The proof will be in the results, but we look forward to finding out.
Editors Note - Fans standing in all-seater stadiums without rail seating was arguably quite unsafe with the risk of falling over the seat in front often quite high, particularly when getting to your seat or celebrating a goal.
Chelsea tripled the prices of tickets in some season ticket prices in the Westview Stamford Bridge, the question is it are they worth it?
The club spent the summer upgrading the facilities in the stand, holding prices where they are this season. It was clear though those prices were going to rise but fans are struggling to understand what a 360-degree bar and some catering upgrades do to justify the increase.
Overview Of The Westview Stamford Bridge
The Westview Stamford Bridge is the rebranding for the top tier of the West Stand.
It has always been one of the more expensive seats in the stadium and is normally where the sponsor and corporate tickets are sat.
So what do you get for your money?
Seats
The seats in the Westview Stamford Bridge are a far cry from the dilapidated terraces of yesteryear.
Your ticket gets you’re a padded seat, with space heaters throughout the stand to keep the cold of winter away. It is comfortable and designed for those that prefer to watch their football seated, eating fancy food and keeping noise levels to a minimum.
View
The view from the top tier of the West Stand is stunning.
If you have one of the pricier tickets on the halfway line you have the perfect view of the action, towering over the players with a true perspective of what is going on at all times.
If you forget the score, you also have at least two screens within your eyeline.
Meaning if your posh pie makes you sleepy, when your snooze is interrupted, you won’t have to ask the seat next to you what the score is.
Atmosphere
The West Stand is not known for its ferocious atmosphere and the Westview changes will only reinforce this. There are this season pockets of those that want to get involved, but realistically it is a much quieter and calm place to watch football.
Which for most fans will be quite a disappointment.
Concourse
The first thing you notice when you go through the turnstiles is the steps up to the concourse.
There are a lot of them!
You climb from ground level to the top of the Stadium winding up the stairs that seem to go on forever. This is an ordeal in itself!
If you are hungry the food options are more varied. Offering things such as pizza and rotisserie chicken that you do not typically expect at a football concession stand, as well as your standard burgers, pies and pasties.
These foods do not typically lend themselves to quick service.
You will be surprised by just how compact the concourse is. There is not much space and the queues for the food back up from the entrance to the seating block all the way to the back wall.
Meaning you have to dodge and weave to get from one side of the stand to the other picking through a sea of bodies.
These queues are only matched by those at the bar.
The much-vaunted 360-degree bars do provide quick service, but the packed concourse means it is still hard to get a beer and even when you do there is not much space to drink it.
After the game, the bars do remain open. It is only then that you can actually enjoy the panoramic views that the new configuration offers as you have a relaxed pint after the game. This is a unique touch compared to non-corporate seats where at the final whistle you are quickly ushered into the street.
Service lasts for around 20-30 minutes after the final whistle, so you will have to find another bar to properly celebrate or commiserate.
Ticket Prices
This is the painful bit for Chelsea fans.
The club clearly sees the Westview as a middle ground between standard prices and the nosebleed corporate packages that come with food, drinks and pre-match entertainment.
This is reflected in the ticket pricing.
Whilst ticket prices for 2022/2023 have not been announced, based on season ticket prices ranging from 1,500 to £3,900 (near the halfway line) the prices are going to be out of the reach of the average person.
Whilst a Westview season ticket covers domestic cup and Champions League group games the cost is still going to be over £100 per game.
This means tickets in the Westview for individual games are likely to be in the £150 range. I think this video sums it up
🤯 “How is a 300% increase justified?!”
❌ “It’s easy to sneer, but I would hate this at any rival club”
🤦♂️”After the Super League, I thought owners realised football without fans is nothing” @ChelseaRory voices his anger at Chelsea’s West stand season ticket price hike #CFCpic.twitter.com/GrdX1apkAO
Having sat in the Westview a couple of times during the Champions League it is at 2021 prices an interesting novelty.
The incredible view and improved facilities are wiped out by the poor atmosphere and terrible value for money.
The refit and new facilities do not justify the price point. It is a middle ground between standard seats and corporate that does not really satisfy either market.
It feels more like a drive for revenue from the club. A lick of paint here and a fancy bar and catering to make a play to triple prices is not a great reflection on the club
Good food (that takes forever), a fancy bar with a good view of the street are not what watching Chelsea is about for me. This is not the way we enjoy watching football.
Who Is The Westview For?
The reality is that these seats are not for fans.
They are for corporates, sponsors, and tourists looking to take in a game whilst in town to tick an experience off the list.
As a fan this is disappointing, the club seems to have learned nothing from the European Super League fiasco. One can only hope that increasing revenue here, means the club keep prices stable in other more appealing areas of the ground.
We are not hopeful.
Should I Buy A Westview Ticket?
You pay your money, you take your choice.
We can certainly see the demand for tickets keeping these seats filled every game.
For those who do not have enough membership points can only make the odd game here or there any seat will do.
We cannot tell you whether to buy a ticket here or not, let us know your thoughts.
Final Word
If you want atmosphere sit in the Shed End or Matthew Harding Stand.
If you want a corporate experience – get a corporate package that may seat you in the Westview but includes all the trappings and comfort of the money you spend.
We do not think the price is worth what you get and will be buying tickets there in the future.
Atmosphere
You will be surprised by just how compact the concourse is. There is not much space and the queues for the food back up from the entrance to the seating block all the way to the back wall.