‘Pathetic’ – Middlesbrough slam ‘bizarre’ Chelsea FA Cup request
Middlesbrough have hit back at Chelsea’s request to play their FA Cup clash behind closed doors, claiming “sporting integrity and Chelsea do not belong in the same sentence.”
Chelsea, who are unable to sell tickets due to the sanctioning of owner Roman Abramovich, released a statement on Tuesday asking the FA to play their game at the Riverside without fans.
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The Blues claimed that them being unable to have away fans in the stadium would damage the ‘sporting integrity’ of the competition.
However, Middlesbrough have now slammed Chelsea’s request, labelling it as ‘bizarre’ and ‘without any merit’.
A statement on the club’s website read: ‘We are aware of Chelsea’s request to have Saturday’s Emirates FA Cup sixth round tie played behind closed doors and find their suggestion both bizarre and without any merit whatsoever.
‘All concerned are well aware of the reasons Chelsea have been sanctioned and that this has nothing to do with Middlesbrough Football Club.
‘To suggest as result that MFC and our fans should be penalised is not only grossly unfair but without any foundation.
‘Given the reasons for these sanctions, for Chelsea to seek to invoke sporting “integrity” as reason for the game being played behind closed doors is ironic in the extreme.
‘We currently await formal notification from the FA of the next steps but rest assured MFC will resist Chelsea’s actions in the strongest terms.’
Boro owner Steve Gibson reiterated the clubs official statement, slamming Chelsea’s chairman Bruce Buck and claiming that sporting integrity and Chelsea do not belong together.
Gibson told The Times (via talkSPORT): “I can’t believe it.
“I can’t believe this excuse of a man, [Chelsea chairman] Bruce Buck. To try this is just unbelievable.
“Sporting integrity and Chelsea do not belong in the same sentence.
“For 19 years Abramovich’s money has fuelled Chelsea’s success.
“If they were to beat us in the FA Cup, with no fans there, what would that do to the integrity of the competition?
“Are they going to play all their Premier League games behind closed doors too?
“This is pathetic by Chelsea.”