5 things Chelsea fans can expect on matchdays at Stamford Bridge after sanctions

While the UK government have sanctioned Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, it is not he who will bear the brunt of the fallout.

Instead, it is those tasked with running the day-to-day operations and the club's fanbase who are the collateral damage of the clamp down on Russian oligarchs.

Limitations on generating revenue and expenditure are going to bring about a very different 'new normal' at Stamford Bridge.

While they continue with all 'football related activities' under a special licence, only season ticket holders and those who have previously purchased tickets will be able to attend games with further sales banned.

So here's five things Chelsea fans can expect on matchdays for the foreseeable future…

Empty seats

While upcoming fixtures at the Bridge have already sold out, there will be no general sale for those later in the season.

As such, the 28,000 season ticket holders can expect to see plenty of empty seats around them when those games come around.

Whether away fans will be able to attend remains to be seen, but the 42k-capacity stadium will look much barer than usual regardless.

Manchester City fans have wasted no time in goading their rivals about that fact.

A closed ticket office and shop

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Chelsea were forced to shut their club shop on Thursday morning following the announcement by the Government.

That's because they are not able to sell merchandise under the new sanctions.

According to The Times, fans in the store at the time were told to put items back and then kicked out by staff.

So not only will the ticket office be closed, but so too will the shop when fans rock up to games.

Food and drink

In fact, the only thing the Blues can sell on matchdays for the time being is food and drink.

That will be their only source of income now with Abramovich's assets frozen.

The special licence allows for fans to get refreshments like normal.

It is thought that revenue nets Chelsea a maximum of £200k per game, via The Sun, which might just about pay Romelu Lukaku a week's worth of wages.

Unsettled squad

Thomas Tuchel had already admitted that the situation surrounding Abramovich was disruptive for his squad last month.

Since then they have lost the Carabao Cup final to Liverpool and players have learnt that they cannot currently get new and improved deals.

Many stars, such as Antonio Rudiger and Mason Mount, have been seeking pay rises from the club this season, so could now grow even more frustrated.

Indeed, it has already been claimed that Rudiger is increasingly likely to leave at the end of his deal in the summer.

Protests

Chelsea fans showed last year that they are not afraid to stand up for what they believe in when they protested against the European Super League.

It proved to be a highly-effective tactic as Chelsea quickly announced a U-turn on the breakaway project.

Therefore, you can expect to see more of the same in the coming weeks with fears that their club could slip into administration.

Many have already been vocal online and even if they don't have a ticket, Chelsea supporters could flock in their thousands to Stamford Bridge.

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