Chelsea fans plan Wembley protest against BlueCo before FA Cup final
Chelsea supporters will stage an unprecedented protest march against the club’s BlueCo ownership ahead of Saturday’s FA Cup final against Manchester City at Wembley.
The supporter group ‘Not A Project CFC’ intends to hold a peaceful demonstration down Wembley Way before the showpiece event.
Organisers anticipate thousands of attendees will participate in the march to express their profound disillusionment with the current hierarchy.
Fans also plan to turn their backs on the pitch during the 22nd minute of the match.
This specific timing is a symbolic gesture marking the year the American consortium took control of the West London side.
Unrest amid Wembley showcase
Protesting at a major domestic cup final highlights the severe fracture between the Stamford Bridge faithful and their corporate leadership.
The primary grievances centre around Behdad Eghbali and Todd Boehly, who are accused of running the institution purely as an investment vehicle.
David Cook, a lifelong fan and key organiser of the demonstration, acknowledged the unusual nature of protesting during a cup final.
“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,” Cook stated.
“This is our club, we are passionate and we support our team. We want it back.”
Cook also noted that the visual nature of the protest aims to serve as a stark warning to any potential future investors.
Managerial instability and academy concerns
The Blues are currently searching for their fifth permanent manager of the BlueCo era following a turbulent period in the dugout.
Despite securing the Club World Cup and Europa Conference League recently, the current domestic campaign has largely been mired in mid-table mediocrity.
Supporters have grown increasingly frustrated by the boardroom’s treatment of homegrown academy graduates, who are frequently sold to balance financial ledgers.
Cook emphasised that the constant churn of both playing staff and head coaches has completely eroded trust in the overarching project.
“From managerial appointments, treating academy graduates badly and trading them as assets while selling bits of the club to themselves, this is all wrong,” added the 34-year-old.
“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.”
The capital club will face a formidable challenge on the pitch this weekend, entering the clash against Pep Guardiola’s dominant side as heavy underdogs.