A company controlled by Chelsea owner Clearlake Capital reportedly offered Premier League tickets at several times their face value, with the listings removed after it was contacted by The Times.

The investigation, reported by The Times journalist Martyn Ziegler, found that the website Events365 offered tickets to matches involving 19 Premier League clubs, with Chelsea the only side excluded.

The platform reportedly advertised tickets to UK customers at significantly inflated prices, despite the restrictions surrounding the resale of football tickets in England and Wales.

The findings raise questions over the relationship between football club ownership and the secondary ticket market, particularly given Chelsea's public stance against unauthorised ticket resale.

Clearlake-linked company offered Premier League tickets at inflated prices

According to The Times, Events365 was operated by a company controlled by Clearlake Capital, the investment firm that owns Chelsea alongside Todd Boehly and other partners.

The newspaper said it purchased a Premier League ticket through the website for almost four times its original face value.

The buyer was also reportedly given instructions on how to avoid drawing attention to the ticket's source when entering the stadium.

Events365 offered tickets for fixtures involving 19 Premier League clubs, although listings for Chelsea matches were not available.

The website removed access to its Premier League ticket listings after The Times contacted Clearlake about the findings.

The investigation also identified links between the resale business and senior figures connected to Chelsea. Victory Live, the company that owns Events365, has Chelsea chairman Behdad Eghbali and Clearlake managing director James Pade among its directors.

Clearlake declined to comment when approached by the newspaper. However, sources close to the company reportedly said its directors were unaware of the UK listings.

They also pointed to the limited scale of the business involving Premier League tickets this season, citing one overseas customer who had spent $4,600. The reported figure raises questions about the extent of the activity, although the full scale of previous sales remains unclear.

Why are Premier League ticket resales a legal issue?

The controversy comes against the backdrop of restrictions on football ticket resale in England and Wales.

Under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, it is an offence to resell tickets for designated football matches without authorisation from the relevant organisers.

Clubs generally operate their own official resale systems, allowing season-ticket holders and members who cannot attend to pass tickets on through approved channels.

However, enforcement becomes more complicated when resale platforms operate overseas and target customers in the UK. The Times investigation highlights how companies based outside the country can exploit gaps in the existing legal framework.

Chelsea have previously warned supporters against buying tickets through unauthorised resale platforms. The club says tickets obtained through unofficial channels can be cancelled, while supporters risk sanctions, including potential lifetime bans.

The findings therefore create an uncomfortable situation for Chelsea, whose ownership group is linked to a company operating a platform that reportedly offered tickets for rival Premier League fixtures at inflated prices.

The removal of the listings after the newspaper made contact is a significant development, but questions remain over how the platform operated, how many supporters purchased tickets and what oversight existed within the company.

The report is likely to renew debate over ticket touting and the difficulties football authorities face in protecting supporters from inflated resale prices.