A company controlled by Chelsea owners has been flogging Premier League tickets at inflated prices. The revelations emerge even as the London club threatens to ban fans caught selling seats via anything but official re-sale platforms. US-based events365.com, which forms part of the business empire of Chelsea owners Clearlake Capital, was making tickets to Premier League matches available to UK customers for several times their face value.
The situation highlights ongoing tensions surrounding ticket re-sale practices in English football. While domestic firms face strict regulations preventing them from re-selling tickets to local fans, a legal loophole has allowed overseas-registered companies to operate within this space. This loophole is soon to be closed by a new law making its way through Parliament, but until then, grey market operators have continued to find ways to market high-demand sporting fixtures to consumers.
Who Controls the Company Behind the Ticket Sales?
Chelsea chairman Behdad Eghbali and fellow Blues director James Pade, both senior figures in Clearlake Capital, are directors of Victory Live, the US-based firm which owns events365.com. According to reports from investigative journalists, tickets were made available to UK consumers for matches across 19 top-flight clubs, excluding Chelsea itself. Journalists investigating the platform successfully bought a Premier League ticket from the website at the end of last season for just under four times its face value.
Instructions provided to buyers by the seller included specific guidance on how to enter the grounds. Buyers were told: "Once in the stadium, please try to locate the entrance and your seat independently without the help of the stewards." Furthermore, instructions added: "It's very unlikely, but if anyone asks 'Where did you get the ticket from?' Please tell them that you received it from your friend." Following inquiries, events365.com is understood to have now blocked access to all Premier League tickets on its platform.
Previous Controversies Involving Chelsea Board Members
This is not the first time Stamford Bridge bosses have been accused of hypocrisy and making a fast buck off supporters. Former chairman and co-owner Todd Boehly was repeatedly criticised for having a stake in Vivid Seats, which was also re-selling Premier League seats at big mark-ups and taking commission. However, Vivid had mechanisms in place to stop UK fans buying tickets, unlike the setup identified with events365.com.
The company is said to have stopped selling tickets for Chelsea matches after the uproar surrounding Boehly's involvement with Vivid. Because of that history and the fact events365.com was making tickets directly available to UK customers, the new row is considered more damaging to the reputation of the club and the directors involved. Blues bosses have previously been vocal about tackling online bots and traditional ticket touts.
Club Policies and Legal Loopholes in Football Ticketing
Chelsea's official ticket policy states clearly: "Match tickets become invalid if someone pays more than the face value for the ticket or buys it from a tout or an unauthorised online ticket agency or reselling platform." This strict stance has left supporters questioning the disconnect between club directives and the business activities of those running the ownership group. Neither Clearlake nor Chelsea have commented officially, but they are believed to be playing down the embarrassing expose.
According to reports, the official line from the club is that Eghbali, Pade, and other directors were unaware that events365.com was advertising Premier League tickets to UK customers. It is further claimed its only Premier League business so far this season was with an overseas buyer, generating a profit of about £220. However, it remains unclear how many Premier League tickets events365.com re-sold in previous seasons, and to whom. The Premier League also declined to comment on the matter, and industry experts suggest it is unlikely to take action because no current rules or laws have been broken.
What the New Sporting Events Bill Will Change
The operational framework allowing these transactions is set to change under upcoming legislative reforms. Under the Sporting Events Bill, which is currently going through Parliament, it would become a criminal offence for overseas sellers with a UK business to sell football tickets, or sell them into the UK market. This legislation aims to shut down the overseas loopholes that secondary ticketing platforms have used for years.
For football supporters across England, the legislative change represents a long-awaited step toward protecting match-going fans from exorbitant mark-ups. As scrutiny on club ownership groups increases, supporters trusts and fan advisory boards continue to demand greater transparency regarding commercial partnerships and secondary ticketing operations tied to major football clubs.
