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South Africa allrounder guides chase with nerveless innings after Brave suffer another final collapse

Matt Roller03-Sep-2022Oval Invincibles defended their Hundred title thanks to Marizanne Kapp’s nerveless, unbeaten innings of 37 off 33 to steer them past Southern Brave in a rematch of last year’s final.After choosing to bat first, Brave collapsed from 83 for 2 after 74 balls to post just 101 for 7, struggling to find any impetus on a tricky, two-paced pitch in front of a 20,840 crowd at Lord’s.Invincibles lost regular wickets in the chase but for the second final in a row, Kapp was the matchwinner – this time, with the bat. Coming in at 33 for 2 – which quickly became 33 for 3 – she marshalled their inexperienced middle order and dragged them over the line with six balls to spare.”The way Marizanne batted under pressure was just awesome,” Suzie Bates, Invincibles’ captain, said. “She’s one of the best allrounders in the world and today she showed why: under pressure, she’s even better.”Our bowling group did an outstanding job to keep them to that score. It was always going to be a nervy chase but it’s brilliant to have young players perform.”Slow and steady
Southern Brave’s success has been characterised by attacking batting, with the depth of their line-up allowing Danni Wyatt and Smriti Mandhana licence to go hard at the top of the order, particularly during the powerplay.They made a bright start on a slow pitch: Mandhana, who missed last year’s final, pierced the infield with a crisp cover drive to the second ball of the innings, and Sophia Smale’s second set – the last five balls of the powerplay – was clearly targeted as Wyatt crashed consecutive fours through the off side and Mandhana lofted over the leg side.Both openers were caught and bowled. Shabnim Ismail removed Wyatt, settling under a difficult chance after cranking the pace up to 78mph with a hard-length ball that skewed up into the leg side, and Mandhana miscued back to Smale to leave Brave 39 for 2 after 39 balls.Sophia Dunkley and Tahlia McGrath, the engine room of Brave’s batting, set about the rebuild and batted with plenty of attacking intent, but generally struggled to find gaps. At 74 for 2 with 30 balls remaining, they needed to launch at the back end.Invincibles fight back
Dunkley and McGrath exchanged boundaries when Invincibles brought Eva Gray, their sixth bowler, into the attack, but when McGrath fell to the final ball of her first set, it sparked a collapse that proved defining.They failed to score a boundary in the final 26 balls of the innings and added only 18 runs for the loss of five wickets in that phase. Maia Bouchier, their designated finisher, was starved of the strike and finished 9 not out off 11 balls.Invincibles were brilliant at the death, squeezing hard. Alice Capsey took 2 for 6 across a set of 10 consecutive balls, split across both ends: Dunkley edged through to Lauren Winfield-Hill, who took a smart catch, and Georgia Adams was caught at deep midwicket. Ismail rearranged Freya Kemp’s stumps, and Amanda-Jade Wellington miscued Kapp to mid-off.Eva Gray’s dismissal of Tahlia McGrath triggered a collapse•Getty ImagesWasteful Brave
Invincibles have relied heavily on their opening pair, Winfield-Hill and Bates, throughout this season but lost both for single-figure scores in the final: Winfield-Hill was stumped by Carla Rudd’s lightning-fast hands off Anya Shrubsole, and Bates inside-edged Wellington onto her own stumps via her pad.Brave needed regular wickets to stand a chance, but were profligate in the field: Capsey was dropped twice, by Shrubsole and Mandhana, during her cameo of 25 off 17, and several misfields allowed Invincibles to build partnerships without worrying about the required rate mounting.Kapp’s star turn
Kapp has turned big-game performances into a habit: she took 4 for 9 in the Hundred’s inaugural final and won the match award in the WBBL final at the end of last year for Perth Scorchers, and Invincibles were always favourites as long as she stayed in.Back-to-back boundaries off Wellington, the season’s leading wicket-taker, got her up and running before she punished Shrubsole for straying in line, and she survived a number of scares when beaten on the inside edge.Mady Villiers and Kira Chathli both fell cheaply but Emily Windsor, the 24-year-old batter in her first innings of the season, held her nerve at the end. She charged Wellington’s penultimate ball, pumping her back down the ground for four, and after Kapp had slashed McGrath through the off side, Windsor did the same to seal the game.”It’s been an amazing journey,” Kapp said. “You’re always nervous in finals and the wicket was really tough, but luckily we got across the line.”Brave have only lost three games across both seasons of the women’s Hundred, but two of them have been in finals. As Invincibles lifted the trophy, they were left to reflect on a second successive near-miss.

Sunderland are now in talks over a deal to sign a striker this month, with Regis Le Bris in favour of the move, according to a report.

Black Cats keen on a striker

The Black Cats are searching for a new striker this month, in order to strengthen their Championship promotion push, and they have identified a number of targets.

Southampton’s Ben Brereton Diaz was on Le Bris’ shortlist, with the Saints willing to offload the forward this month, but Sheffield United are leading the race for his signature, as he would only consider a move to his former club.

The Blades are also in the running for another Sunderland target, namely Leicester City’s Tom Cannon, and they are also in pole position for the 22-year-old’s signature, having now agreed a £13m deal with the Foxes.

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He could become a viable alternative amid increasing competition for Cannon’s signature.

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As such, the Black Cats may be forced to move on to other options, and they could be well-placed to sign Westerlo striker Mathias Frigan, who they are believed to be seriously interested in signing.

There has now been a promising new update on Sunderland’s pursuit of Frigan, with Germanijak reporting they have now entered talks with Westerlo to discuss the terms of a deal (via Sport Witness).

This comes after Wilson Isidor, who has been fantastic for the club during his loan stay from Zenit, endured a horror evening at Burnley on Friday, seeing two late penalties saved in the same corner by James Trafford.

Le Bris is said to be strongly in favour of Frigan’s arrival, with the manager looking to bolster his squad to aid his side’s chances of returning to the Premier League.

The Championship promotion hopefuls want to sign the Croatian on a loan deal, with a conditional obligation to buy for a fee of €15m (£13m) if they achieve their goal of returning to the top flight.

The 21-year-old is very interested in moving to the Stadium of Light, which may make it easier to get a deal over the line.

Sunderland’s upcoming Championship fixtures

Date

Derby County (h)

January 21st

Plymouth Argyle (h)

January 25th

Middlesbrough (a)

February 3rd

Watford (h)

February 8th

Luton Town (h)

February 12th

Frigan could be a shrewd acquisition for Le Bris

The former Rijeka man didn’t have the best debut season in Belgium, scoring just four goals in 23 league games, but he has already managed to better that goal tally this term, picking up six goals and three assists in 20 outings.

Football talent scout Jacek Kulig has also previously lauded the starlet, likening him to former European Golden Shoe winner Ciro Immobile.

It would be a slight risk to sign Frigan, given that he is unproven in a major league, but a loan deal with an obligation to buy if they win promotion could be a shrewd way of bringing in an impressive striker with less risk. It would take some of the goalscoring pressure off Isidor’s shoulders at a delicate time for the youngster, who admitted Friday was the worst day of his life.

Newcastle could now lose one of their recent signings as one club have entered talks over landing him this January, according to a shock report.

Newcastle pushing for top four

Five Premier League wins on the bounce have propelled Newcastle up the table and back into contention for the top four come the end of the campaign, which would bring with it a return to Champions League action.

Currently fifth, the Magpies are two points behind Chelsea heading into their game against Wolves, while draws from both Manchester City and Bournemouth have given Eddie Howe’s side the chance to open up a gap over both teams in the coming days.

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With the January transfer window open though, the Magpies will need to strengthen, with the sides around them already doing so and Manchester City likely to improve with a mammoth spend this winter.

As it stands, Newcastle may have to sell players before they can buy though. Miguel Almiron is one who could leave, with the Paraguay international having made just seven Premier League appearances this campaign and starting just once. He is reportedly in advanced talks over an exit, which could net Newcastle a decent fee.

However, one player who could yet stay is Newcastle shot-stopper Martin Dubravka, despite the Slovakian veteran having already agreed a deal to leave for Saudi Arabia. His departure would force the Magpies into the market for a second-choice goalkeeper, which would waste a significant chunk of any available budget.

That budget could yet be added to with a new departure though, with one club in talks to land another Newcastle man.

Fenerbahce in talks with Newcastle over defender

That comes as Fenerbahçe have confirmed that they are “in talks” with Newcastle over a move to sign defender Lloyd Kelly just six months after his arrival on Tyneside.

The English defender, who worked with Howe at Bournemouth, joined the club as a free agent over the summer but has yet to nail down a first team spot at St James’ Park. So far, the 26-year-old has started just four top flight games for the Magpies, and with Sven Botman now returning from injury, his chances of being asked to step in are only decreasing.

Appearances

9

Starts

4

Yellow Cards

2

% of minutes played

17%

Though dubbed “incredible” by Gary O’Neil when the pair worked together at Bournemouth, he has had little opportunity to show that.

Now he could depart, with Fenerbahce vice-president Acun Ilıcalı explaining that “We are in talks for a Lloyd Kelly transfer. He’s a player we’re interested in. If we can reach an agreement, we will transfer this player”, with Jose Mourinho on the hunt for a left-sided defender.

As per the Telegraph, while “Newcastle were willing to listen to Fenerbahce’s proposal”, the Turkish side’s “opening offer was considerably below their valuation of the player”.

As a result, “talks have not progressed and the Turkish club would have to significantly raise their offer for the 26-year-old if they are going to resume”, though their remains the prospect of an agreement.

With Kelly believed to be on £150,000 a week on Tyneside, his sale could free up some much needed funds for Howe’s side as they look to remain the right side of the Premier League’s financial regulations while also building a squad capable of competing for major honours, but they would need Fenerbahce to seriously up their offer.

Mark Alleyne, the former England and Gloucestershire allrounder, will join Welsh Fire as an assistant coach ahead of their upcoming men’s Hundred season.Alleyne, who represented England in 10 one-day internationals and captained Gloucestershire to nine one-day trophies in seven years, joins head coach Gary Kirsten and fellow assistants Matt Maynard and Jason Kerr to form Welsh Fire’s men’s coaching team.Alleyne works as a Test scout for the ECB and is Assistant Director of Sport at Marlborough College. He travelled with the England men’s T20I squad as a support coach during their recent tour of the Caribbean.”I’m delighted to be joining Welsh Fire and have the opportunity to work with Gary Kirsten and his coaching team,” Alleyne said.Related

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“It’s exciting to be able to work closely with elite players and hopefully I can use my experience to add extra value to what they do and help create a winning formula for Welsh Fire.”I loved watching The Hundred last year and it’s exciting to get involved in a competition that captured the imagination of fans and brought new audiences to cricket.”Mark Wallace, Welsh fire team manager, said: “Mark was one of the most forward-thinking and progressive players of his generation and is a great addition to the Welsh Fire coaching staff.”He is full of enthusiasm and knowing Mark he will bring plenty of new ideas to the table that will help take Welsh Fire to the next level.”Welsh Fire men’s side finished last year’s inaugural season in seventh place out of eight teams. They begin their 2022 campaign against defending champions Southern Brave at the Ageas Bowl in the opening match of the new season on August 3. They will then host Oval Invincibles on August 7. The women’s side get their season underway on August 13 in a double-header with Birmingham Phoenix at Sophia Gardens.

The 23-year-old striker bagged three goals inside 45 minutes as he nears a return to competitive action for the senior team

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• Folarin Balogun scores hat trick for Monaco "Elites" squad in friendly
• All three goals scored within 45-minute span
• USMNT forward on verge of return from shoulder surgery

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  U.S. international Folarin Balogun scored a hat trick for Monaco's "Elites Group' in a club friendly against Brighton's U23 side on Tuesday. The American's three goals all came within a 45-minute span, the club said.

  Ther 23-year-old recently returned to full team training after undergoing shoulder surgery in December. Prior to injury, he made seven appearances for Monaco in Ligue 1 action, recording six starts and scoring three goals.

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• AFP
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Balogun has yet to feature under USMNT manager Mauricio Pochettino due to the shoulder issue.

  In early October, he scored his third goal of the year in a 2-1 victory over Rennes, but later in the match he suffered a dislocated shoulder that kept him out of both the October and November camps under the Argentine with the USMNT. He returned in late November, and after playing 68 minutes in a match against Marseille on Dec. 1, re-aggravated the shoulder injury – and he opted for surgery as a result.

  This past week – with Balogun unavailable in addition to fellow striker Ricardo Pepi, midfielder Malik Tillman and defenders Sergino Dest and Antonee Robinson – the U.S. crashed out of the CONCACAF Nations League finals, falling to Panama in the semifinal match and to Canada in the third-place game.

  If healthy, Balogun will be available for selection for the June international friendlies and the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  In 14 appearances with the USMNT, Balogun has scored five goals and recorded three assists.

• AFP
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR BALOGUN?

  It's unknown if Balogun will be fit for the weekend when Monaco's senior team take on rivals Nice in Ligue 1 action, but the match presents an opportunity for the 23-year-old to play his first competitive minutes of the calendar year.

Nottingham Forest are interested in signing a £25 million international defender ahead of Premier League rivals Newcastle United, according to a recent report.

It has been an excellent 2024/25 season for the Reds so far, as they are probably the surprise package of the campaign, but with January not that far away now, Nuno Espirito Santo and co seemingly have their eye on potential transfer targets.

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Forest will hope that when January arrives, they are still in the top half of the table and are mounting a challenge for what could be an unexpected European spot. Nuno will not want to disrupt the squad too much, but adding one or two players may be on his mind.

The Reds are reportedly interested in signing Marwan Al-Sahafi from Al-Ittihad. He joined Belgian side Beerschot on loan in the summer and has been catching the eye with his performances, so much so that Forest and La Liga side Real Sociedad are keeping a close eye on him. As well as Al-Sahafi, it has recently emerged that Forest are interested in signing Manchester City’s James McAtee.

There are a host of clubs from England and abroad keeping an eye on his situation at the Etihad, but given his lack of game time, he could be allowed to leave in January for a fee of roughly £20 million. This has got Nuno’s side interested, but as well as looking at improving the team going forward, the Forest boss also has his eye on adding more options to his defence.

Nottingham Forest eyeing move to sign £25m Joel Ordonez

According to TBR Football, Nottingham Forest are eyeing a move to sign Joel Ordonez from Club Brugge in January. The Ecuador international, who has four caps to his name, has been playing in Belgium since 2022 but only joined Brugge last year and is also wanted by Newcastle.

The Belgian side were patient with the 20-year-old last season, but in this current 2024/25 campaign, he has become a key player, starting 13 of the 14 games he has played in all competitions. Ordonez has performed very well in Europe as well, starting all four of Brugge’s Champions League fixtures, two of which they have won, and one was against Aston Villa.

Villa have also been mentioned with an interest in Ordonez, but this new report adds that Forest are also interested in signing the centre-back. The Reds, Newcastle and Villa are not the only teams keen, with Brentford, Wolves and Brighton also named in the update.

Forest could be interested in making a move in January, but it would be an expensive capture, as it’s been claimed that Brugge values Ordonez at €30 million, which is roughly £25 million. This would be a risky signing for Nuno’s side, given he hasn’t played in England and the Premier League before, but at his age, he has a lot of time to develop into a very good central defender.

New Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim has a huge job on his hands trying to transform a side that has constantly failed to hit the heights many have predicted them to.

The hierarchy has constantly backed the managers during their respective stints in charge of Old Trafford, but their investments have been unable to change the club’s fortunes.

Previous boss Erik ten Hag spent around £600m on new additions during his two and a bit years in the North West, finishing third and eighth in his two full seasons in the Premier League.

That responsibility to succeed at a club that has gone over a decade without a title now falls onto the former Portuguese international, hoping to replicate his success at Sporting CP, which saw him win two Liga Portugal titles.

However, he will have many dilemmas over the coming months, including the upcoming January transfer window, with questions needing to be asked about the futures of numerous players in his first-team squad.

Amorim’s midfield dilemma ahead of the transfer window

Cost-cutting is on the agenda for United over the next couple of months, with the new-look hierarchy committed to saving the club money in any way possible.

However, their accounts were published over the last couple of days, showing that the cost of sacking Ten Hag and appointing Amorim set them back around £21m alone.

As a result, the first-team picture may need a little shake-up, putting the future of some players at risk given their below-par performances for the Red Devils in recent times.

Youngster Kobbie Mainoo and summer addition Manuel Ugarte will undoubtedly remain at the club, with Mason Mount likely handed another opportunity to impress after the new boss gave a glittering review of the Englishman upon his arrival.

The likes of Casemiro and Christian Eriksen could find themselves in a precarious position, especially considering the former’s huge weekly earnings which see him pocket £350k-per-week at Old Trafford.

Such a fee sees the Brazilian pocket a staggering £18.2m in wages per year in Manchester, a massive amount given his lack of positive impact in recent months which has seen him hounded by Jamie Carragher.

As for Eriksen, he too earns a small fortune, at £150k-per-week, but unlike Casemiro, his contract is set to expire at the end of the current campaign with no new contract currently on the horizon.

Their combined yearly intake would see the hierarchy save £26m a season, undoubtedly fitting into the cost-cutting strategy they’re trying to implement which has seen icon Sir Alex Ferguson removed from the payroll starting from next summer.

However, the funds generated from any departure could allow for a key addition that would set United up for the present whilst also keeping one eye on the future.

Man Utd eyeing January move for UCL talent

According to GIVEMESPORT, Man Utd are one of a number of English sides targeting a move for PSV midfielder Malik Tillman in January.

The 22-year-old, who’s previously played for Bayern Munich and Rangers, also has admirers from Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur after his impressive start to 2024/25.

The American has scored eight times so far this campaign, including three strikes in the Champions League, including in the comeback victory over Shakhtar Donetsk last night.

He’s a versatile talent, able to operate in a wide role along with attacking or central midfielder positions, making him a perfect fit for Amorim’s 3-4-3 system.

Tillman’s impressive performances in Europe have led to comparisons to Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham by FBref, a huge statement given the rise of the former Birmingham City star.

However, when delving into their respective stats from the Champions League this season, their PSV ace has matched or bettered the Englishman in numerous key areas – highlighting what a superb addition he would be for the Red Devils.

Games played

5

5

Goals & assists

5

1

Completed passes

41

39

Shot-on-target accuracy

40%

29%

Shot-creating actions

6

3.2

Take-ons completed

73%

46%

Tackles

3.4

2.3

Interceptions made

1.4

0.6

Aerials won

1.2

0.4

The “world-class” Tillman, as dubbed by ESPN host Hercules Gomez, has registered more combined goals and assists, whilst managing to place more of his efforts on target.

Despite being an attacking-minded player, the American has won more tackles per 90 along with more interceptions – showcasing his ability at both ends of the pitch as an all-action Bellingham-type midfielder.

Whilst it’s unclear how much a deal for Tillman will set the Red Devils back in January, he has been billed as a £120m player in the making by former Ajax man Kenneth Perez. On that basis, it’s certainly evident he possesses a lot of talents that could be of use to 39-year-old Amorim.

Their current situation on the field is far from ideal, with the PSV star having the tools to provide a superb option in a variety of roles and help lead the revival at Old Trafford.

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Leicester City are among the Premier League clubs who are interested in signing an attacking “machine” in January, according to a new report. The Foxes have made a steady start to life back in the top flight, picking up 10 points from a possible 30, but Steve Cooper will know performances do need to improve if they are going to stay above that dotted line.

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Leicester already lining up 2025 transfer plans

Leicester and Cooper will have their eye on players who they believe can improve them for when January arrives, but they also appear to have their eye on one player who can’t move until next summer.

It was reported earlier this week that the Foxes are keeping a close eye on Ipswich Town’s Jack Clarke. The winger only joined the Tractor Boys during the summer transfer window from Sunderland, but Leicester are already weighing up whether to make a move for him in 2025. It has been a testing time for Clarke at Portman Road, as he’s yet to replicate the form he showed at the Stadium of Light.

The 23-year-old hasn’t scored for Ipswich yet, and he has found himself in and out of the starting XI in the opening 10 league games. He cannot play for a third English club this term after already turning out for Ipswich and the Black Cats though, so any move would be a summer one.

Leicester interested in signing Bayern starlet Mathys Tel

According to Caught Offside, Leicester City are interested in signing Mathys Tel on loan in January. The 19-year-old has been at Bayern Munich since July 2022, when he joined from French side Stade Rennais, and his career has really taken off since moving to Germany, as he shines playing anywhere across the front three.

Tel, who has been labelled a “two-footed ball-striking machine” in the past, played 30 times for Munich in the Bundesliga last season, scoring seven goals and recording five assists, but this season he has fallen out of favour under manager Vincent Kompany.

The winger has played seven times in all competitions, only two of which have come as starts, and it appears as though he could be allowed to leave on loan when January arrives. The report states that the German giants still see Tel as a “key part” of their long-term future, but he could now benefit from a temporary move away, and would be an exciting addition to the Premier League.

Looking at players who compare on FBRef’s statistical tools, Liverpool’s Luis Diaz ranks second by statistical profile.

Bayern want Tel to get regular first team minutes under his belt, and Leicester, as well as Fulham, Crystal Palace, and Nottingham Forest, are all keen on landing the young star, but a final decision will be made by the player himself.

Everton have stormed their way out of trouble across the past several matches in the Premier League, with their unbeaten run stretching to four matches after a deserved victory at Ipswich Town.

The newly-promoted side have plenty of enterprise but have struggled to muster the defensive organisation that top-flight football demands and such sloppiness was ruthlessly pounced on by in-form Toffees winger Dwight McNeil, placing a pass toward Michael Keane, who scored his second goal of the campaign.

That was the second, victory-sealing strike. The first? Scored by Iliman Nidaye, who is really starting to prove his quality.

Iliman Ndiaye's stats vs Ipswich

Everton have claimed eight points from 12 available in the Premier League after Sean Dyche started the season with four defeats on the trot, now with a five-point cushion from 18th-placed Crystal Palace, who play tomorrow.

Writing in his post-match player ratings, the Liverpool Echo’s Chris Beesley handed the Senegal international an 8/10 match rating, saying: ‘A box of tricks again, he looked lively throughout, running at defenders, and was quick to capitalise on Wes Burns’ hesitation at the back post and smash the ball into the roof of Arijanet Muric’s net to fire Everton ahead.’

It’s the kind of weapon that opponents struggle to contain, and the winger’s skills were indeed showcased at Portman Road, complementing his goal by winning five duels and succeeding with his one attempted dribble, as per Sofascore.

A talismanic force and a beacon to guide the Toffees away from the dangerous waters that they have struggled in for much of the 2024/25 campaign, he looks a force to be reckoned with, perhaps even developing into Everton’s biggest talent since Richarlison.

Everton's biggest talent since Richarlison

Everton signed Ndiaye from French club Marseille for a £15m fee in the summer and he is starting to prove his worth as one of the club’s standout stars.

It’s only two months into the season, but he’s demonstrating ball-carrying quality and a hint of future prolificness that could establish him as Everton’s biggest talent since Richarlison.

Across ten matches in all competitions, now, Ndiaye has scored three goals and has been hailed by The Athletic’s Patrick Boyland as “Everton’s new hope”.

Richarlison joined Tottenham in a deal worth £60m in 2022 after a successful career on Merseyside, and while it hasn’t gone perfectly for the Brazil international down in the capital, he was instrumental for Everton across his 152 outings, notching 66 goal contributions.

Most of Richarlison’s finest football on English shores was plied at Goodison Park, and you can’t help but feel that his menacing, effective approach to attacking has not been sufficiently replaced on that left flank.

Until now. Ndiaye has all the properties to become a real success in the Premier Leauge, and if he keeps producing performances like he did against Ipswich, Everton need not fear the dreaded thought of sinking into the second tier, and can instead turn toward the upper echelons of the division and start to climb.

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Chelsea Supporters' Trust are enraged over Todd Boehly's financial ties to a ticketing platform selling match tickets at highly inflated prices.

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Boehly is a stakeholder at Vivid SeatsUK law prohibits the unauthorised resale of ticketsCST demands Boehly to address the growing concernsFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Boehly, who led the consortium that purchased Chelsea in 2022, is also a director and investor in Vivid Seats, an American ticket exchange that enables non-UK users to buy and sell tickets for concerts and sporting events. Chelsea supporters have raised serious concerns over the potential conflict of interest, given that Boehly's financial involvement with Vivid Seats suggests he may be indirectly profiting from a practice that his own club has officially condemned.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportWHAT THE CHELSEA SUPPORTER'S TRUST SAID

CST have demanded that Boehly address the growing concerns, emphasising that Chelsea tickets should not appear on resale platforms.

“Vivid Seats currently lists hundreds of Chelsea FC General Admission tickets at significantly inflated prices,” a spokesman said. “As these tickets are not sold by the Chelsea FC website, they are considered by the club to be ‘illegal sales’. Within the recent CST ticket touting survey, many CST members suggested that Mr Boehly’s connection with Vivid Seats is a ‘breach of trust’ and could be a conflict of interest.

“These recent reports are very disappointing, and it is within Mr Boehly’s best interests to investigate these issues and address supporters’ concerns — we do not believe it is appropriate for any Chelsea tickets or wider Premier League tickets to be listed on the Vivid Seats website.”

HOW HAS VIVID SEATS RESPONDED

Following the backlash, Vivid Seats issued a statement on Wednesday, clarifying its position and denying any wrongdoing. They said: “As a global business, we are always respectful and cognisant of local regulatory policies and procedures that are in place in any market to ensure we are compliant.

“As such, our policy restricts the sale of EPL [English Premier League] tickets from UK sellers. We can confirm that we do not have any UK sellers listing EPL inventory on our marketplace. Additionally, Vivid Seats does not and has never directly marketed or advertised Premier League tickets to UK customers. Regarding pricing, Vivid Seats does not set the base price for tickets sold on its marketplace or receive any revenue from that base price; only the seller sets and receives the base ticket price.”

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Chelsea have previously taken a firm position against ticket touting, warning that season-ticket holders found reselling seats for profit could face serious consequences.

“Supporters found to be selling their ticket for more than face value will be subject to a club investigation and sanctions, including the removal of season tickets, memberships and access to the away match ticket scheme,” they said in a statement last year.

“This unfortunately occurs more often than you would expect, and the club has been forced to ban many members and season ticket holders. In some cases, the matter will be reported to the police for criminal prosecution. The only place to purchase general admission tickets is via official Chelsea FC channels, including the club website and ticket exchange. Ticket holders can only transfer a ticket to a friend or family member for no more than face value.”