Middlesbrough vs Chelsea: Blues Make Desperate Plea About FA Cup Clash Amid Government Sanctions

• Chelsea wants the FA Cup tie against Middlesbrough played behind closed doors on ‘sporting integrity’ grounds
• The Blues are unable to sell away tickets following sanctions that were imposed on the club’s Russian owner Roman Abramovic
• At the moment, Chelsea is only operating under a special licence, allowing the club to spend £900,000 on costs for home games

Chelsea have tabled a request to have their FA Cup quarter final against Middlesbrough played behind closed doors amid the club’s ongoing woes.

Last Thursday, the West London club was dealt a blow as owned Roman Abramovic was included in the list of sanctioned individuals in the UK due to his links with Russia President Vladimir Putin.

As a result, Chelsea’s ticket sales were halted, meaning the club will have no fans in attendance of the crucial FA Cup tie.

The club is currently barely hanging on, as they are currently operating under a special licence granted by the government.

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In a statement released on the club website on Tuesday, March 15, Chelsea said:

"It is important for the competition that the match against Middlesbrough goes ahead, however it is with extreme reluctance that we are asking the FA board to direct that the game be played behind closed doors for matters of sporting integrity.”

The club added that it had been in touch with the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation to try to reverse the situation surrounding their ticket sales, with no success.

"Chelsea FC recognises that such an outcome would have a huge impact on Middlesbrough and its supporters, as well as our own fans who have already bought the limited number of tickets that were sold before the licence was imposed, but we believe this is the fairest way of proceeding in the current circumstances." The statement went on.

How Chelsea are coping with the sanctions

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So far, the Blues have done everything they can to manage the torrid situation.

Since the sanctions were imposed, Chelsea have won both their Premier League games; 3-1 against Burnley, and a nervy 1-0 victory over Newcastle on Sunday, March 13.

But things are only going to get more complicated from here, as the Blues prepare to take on Lille in the Champions League on Wednesday.

After an amendment to the special licence, Chelsea was allowed to spend £900,000 on costs for home games, but the allowable away costs of travel remains at £20,000 per game.

Middlesbrough's impressive FA Cup journey

Meanwhile, Chris Wilder’s Middleborough will look to continue their superb run in the FA Cup this season.

The Boro already know what it is like to sink the big guns in the competition, having already knocked oiut Manchester United and Tottenham.

As reported by Sports Brief, the championship side somehow managed to get past Antonio Conte’s side on March 1 to end Spurs’ hopes of landing any silverware this season.

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Substitute Josh Coburn found the only goal of the game, and it was nothing more than Middlesbrough deserved at the Riverdale Stadium.