Is this true?

[just]

I've heard that the club allegedly sent back approx 1500 unsold tickets for the Barca away leg. I haven't seen or heard anything officially confirming it, but Talksport were happily bashing us over the head with it yesterday.

Is it true? Can anyone substantiate this claim?

[midlandblue]

it was mentioned during last nights commentry, of course that does not make it fact.

[loz]

It has been widely reported as being between 1,500 and 2,000 tickets. A lot of people have been saying it is due to financial pressures combined wiht having to renew season tickets, save for FA Cup final and possibly a trip to Rome and the fact that when choosing which game to spend money on the BArca one was the least attractive due to being stuck up in the nosebleeds and seeing a game of Sensible Soccer rather than a football game.

[just]

"widely reported" !!!

My mates who were out there also heard this rumour. A lot of people are passing this off as fact Loz, but I can't find any official statement/confirmation of this. I'd be very, very grateful if anyone can find any link to substantiate or disprove this.

I didn't go to Barcelona for several reasons:

1. After a period out of work I recently started a new job and couldn't justifiably take the time off.

2. I have been to see us play there three times before.

3. You are stuck so high up it really is like watching a subbeteo match.

4. You are kept in the ground for at least 60-90 minutes after the final whistle.

5. Cost. As in all the reasons you have listed Loz. Season ticket renewal. FA Cup final. Rome... (please God).

I am in the club's Euro Away Scheme and have been from its inception. Unfortunately, I have been unable to make any of the games this season. I have, however, ensured my tickets have gone to genuine Chelsea fans, some of whom haven't previously had the chance of getting tickets to see us away in europe. And despite the recession there has been no shortage of takers for most games, which is why I am highly skeptical of this rumour.

[goose]

This was the rumour when I was talking to Chelsea fans before the match.

I was surprised that at the Nou Camp they were still selling tickets at the box office right up to the kick off. They would however only sell to spanish but it was easy enough to get talking to some of the locals and bung them a few Euro to go and buy you one.

[paulo]

If true maybe part of the reason would be that many fans have been to away games in Barca quite recently and seen that it is much better to not go as an official Chelsea fan. Reasons being it is very easy to get hold of tickets, it is not a very dangerous place to be in the home section, you can sit in a much better location and do not have to get coaches to and from the ground and sit around afterwards for ages and generally get treated like sh*te. I have been to Barca away games 3 times and was always glad I wasn't on an official package.

[coombsie]

"Talk Spite" and specifically that c*nt Adrian Durham, have been banging on about this ever since the game. He stated that Tottenham, Leeds, Liverpool, Arsenal. Man Ure even Man City would have sold their allocation but Chelsea, with their "fickle" fans could not. He therefore deduced that Chelsea are not and never will be A BIG CLUB !!!

I have been TWICE before and everything Just says is spot on, except he missed a couple of things. Firstly you are made to feel like the enemy, by cops and stewards alike. You are continually threatened by locals and once you have been herded into what I consider to be one of the WORST stadiums that I have visited, they SHUT every single bar, snacks and refreshment point and this was TWO HOURS before kick off.

Mates of mine who alas are Man Ure fans, have told me exactly the same story and said they would not go back to the Nou Camp either (and they go everywhere)

Perhaps UEFA will stop warming the balls up and give Chelsea somebody other than Barca or the Scousers in future, then you will see the Blues SELL OUT their allocation.