The club has invested in extensive resources to enhance our approach to tackling this issue. This includes a dedicated audit team which continuously monitors ticket misuse, with increased deployment of technology, intelligence gathering and sanctions.

Changes to the ticketing system – including the introduction of digital ticketing – have enabled the club to better target touts and ensure a fairer, more secure system. We thank the fans for their cooperation during the implementation period and, as demonstrated by this update, can confidently assert the changes have made a direct and material difference in the club’s ability to take action on ticket fraud.

Over the course of the season, the club has provided updates to the Fan Advisory Board and the Fans’ Forums on a number of these initiatives, and we are pleased to share the impact they have had thus far:

• Over 16,000 memberships suspended, versus 5,000 in 24/25: A tripling of individual accounts currently blocked due to ticket misuse/touting

• Over 94% non-collection rate at home Ticket Collection Points (TCPs): The use of TCPs – with an average of 1,000 ticket purchasers selected to verify their identity at each game – has been extremely effective. Over 94% of those asked to attend the TCP do not turn up, indicating the accuracy of the club’s data profiling to spot ticket misuse

• Up to 80,000 bots blocked per game: Advancements in technology - which help to prevent bots from accessing online ticket sales - have been deployed, with up to 80,000 bots blocked per game at the point of sale

• Misuse of concessionary-rates more than halved: Improved detection leading to a decrease in people accessing concessionary-rate tickets they do not qualify for

Ticket touting is a football-wide issue. The introduction of digital ticketing has provided greater visibility of ticket misuse. Touting is against the law for football matches in the UK. Season ticket holders or members found to be illegally selling their tickets face sanctions. These include the club revoking season tickets and memberships, stadium bans and potential legal action.

We want our fans to be aware of our ongoing efforts to tackle touting, and the risks associated to buying via illegal channels. We are pleased to share further details on measures taken below:

Ticket Collection Point

A Ticket Collection Point (TCP) is an effective tool deployed at home games, to ensure tickets are in the hands of genuine fans purchasing via official platforms.

For each Men’s home game at Stamford Bridge, an average of 1,000 fans are invited to attend the TCP prior to kick-off, to verify their identity in person and activate their ticket.

Alongside randomised checks, the TCP is designed to focus on areas shown to be commonly targeted by touts and suspicious accounts. These include purchases within the Family Stand, concessions, Ticket Exchange, those with erratic buying patterns, seats sold via third-party websites or social media, and members with contradictory personal data.

This season 94% of ticket purchasers invited to attend the TCP did not show up, and their accounts remain blocked, despite the club offering several opportunities to prove their identity. The 6% of genuine fans who successfully verified their identity have been supportive of the process.

This season, almost 50% of suspended accounts involved misuse of tickets purchased within the Family Stand. As a result, we have seen a significant reduction in individuals attempting to purchase a concession ticket they do not qualify for.

Website Monitoring

Touting organisations range from organised criminal gangs to those who appear as average fans. The majority of touted tickets are purchased online – these include genuine and fraudulent tickets. Throughout this season, we have continued to develop our ticketing platform by introducing enhanced detection of bots within the online queue. The system is now able to recognise human demand versus bot attacks, and prioritises genuine users versus those operating with touting software.

During recent on-sale windows, between 60,000 and 80,000 bots were ejected from the online queue, and 100% of the recognised human demand was pushed to the front, providing genuine fans with a better chance of accessing tickets.

The club’s aim is to create a fairer, safer, more secure ticketing experience which helps to put real tickets in the hands of real fans. The combination of all these measures and the club’s investment in additional resource, increased monitoring and direct action is demonstrably delivering against that aim.

There is much more to be done, including enhancing our existing systems to better enable us to continue to tackle ticket touting. But we remain relentlessly committed to delivering a fair and secure system for our fans next season and beyond.

How to purchase a ticket legitimately

The only legitimate way to purchase general admission and Club Chelsea hospitality tickets is via the ticketing portal on the official Chelsea FC website. If you are based outside of the UK, fans may also buy limited Club Chelsea packages via our official Travel Partners Travel Connection and Champions Travel.

Tickets listed on any other platforms are not genuine. If fans buy tickets via unauthorised channels, they should expect to be refused entry to the stadium.