Why Chelsea supporters are using FA Cup Final to protest: ‘I know it will look strange’

Chelsea protest even after reaching the cup final – and that shows the level of bitterness towards owners

Angry Chelsea fans are taking their protest to Wembley in an FA Cup final first.

Supporters group Not A Project CFC are planning a peaceful march down Wembley Way before the showpiece final with Manchester City on Saturday. It will be a first because surely no set of fans has ever protested against their club’s ownership even after reaching the FA Cup final.

But that shows the level of disillusionment and unhappiness towards the club’s BlueCo ownership Behdad Eghbali and Todd Boehly. They expect thousands to support them and they also plan to turn their backs on the match in the 22nd minute which signifies when the current owners took over in 2022.

Lifelong Chelsea fan David Cook, 34, who is one of the main organisers of the group, said: “It’s such an iconic walk up Wembley Way and it will be something of a first.

“Last time we organised something completely different to march with Strasbourg fans before the Manchester United game and we wanted to do something different again.

“I know it will look strange to some supporters. You reach the FA Cup final and it’s a sign of success. But this is about how the club is being run. This is our club, we are passionate and we support our team. We want it back.

“Visually it will have a huge impact. We hope to make a big impact and an impact big enough to have an impact so potential BlueCo investors can see what’s going on.”

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Chelsea fans have voiced their anger towards the owners during recent games and turned on Eghbali and Boehly because they believe they are running it as an investment rather than a football club.

Blues supporters were used to huge success in the previous years under Roman Abramovich who also invested in the local community, academy and was championed by fans.

After winning the Club World Cup, the Europa Conference League and getting into the Champions League, this season is heading towards mid-table mediocrity and they are up against City on Saturday who will be red-hot favourites.

Cook added: “We have lost faith in the ownership. From managerial appointments, treating academy graduates badly and trading them as assets while selling bits of the club to themselves, this is all wrong.

“It’s a project for them. That’s the protest. We have always produced and promoted our own young players. Now we sell them.

“You need stability. We had two big managers. Mauricio Pochettino did quite well and then Enzo Maresca did very well. But they reached a point where they questioned the ownership – and they were gone. Suddenly Liam Rosenior comes in. Who will take it now?

“My worry is that when Chelsea won the Club World Cup, is that the owners and sporting directors saw it as vindication. In the past, we would have seen it as a stepping stone. This club has been used to winning Premier League titles and European Cups.

“Now it’s all about the business plan and turning over players. Of all the players signed last summer, maybe the only quality player signed was Joao Pedro. If we are to go forward as a club then we need BlueCo to sell.”

The group are assembling at Wembley Park Tube station from 1.30pm on Saturday.