Chelsea supporters took to social media to vent their frustrations after an issue with the club’s digital ticketing system led to fans being unable to enter Stamford Bridge.
Enzo Maresca’s side went into Sunday’s clash with cross-London rivals Crystal Palace full of confidence after a summer that saw them crowned champions of the revamped Club World Cup.
The Blues have also once again enjoyed a productive summer in the transfer market, with no fewer than 11 new arrivals at the club.
Sunday’s clash against the Community Shield winners was set to serve as a coming out party for Maresca’s new-look squad.
However, a reported ticketing issue almost denied fans their chance to see their beloved side in action.
In videos circulated widely on social media, fans could be seen stranded in large lines outside the ground prior to the 2pm kickoff.
Chelsea fans were left stranded outside Stamford Bridge ahead of their Premier League opener against Crystal Palace
The incident provoked significant backlash on social media, with some fans taking aim at the club for the way the switch to digital ticketing had been implemented.
One supporter wrote: ‘Only Chelsea could bring in a new ticket system and f*** it up on day one.
‘Anyone not got their season ticket in the app anymore? Chelsea ticketing are such a shambles! We all knew this would happen as well’
Another agreed: ‘The Chelsea digital ticket system has crashed on the first time of using! Only away fans mainly in.
‘The queues outside are horrendous for home game. Maybe a delayed start.’
A third fan added: ‘Using pre-season games as your tests for digital tickets was never gonna work because a LOT of ST holders/members are never going to those.
‘Hopefully this is quickly resolved which I expect it will.’
The issue is understood to have emanated from the club’s newly-introduced digital ticketing system which was announced earlier this year.
The scheme replaced all types of physical tickets for home game’s at Stamford Bridge.
When announced, the club noted that fans who were unable to access their tickets using a phone would be able to request an exemption with submissions considered on a case-by-case basis.
While the system had been first introduced during pre-season, Sunday’s Premier League opener against Palace marked the first time it has been in use for a major fixture.
In a statement on the club’s website detailing the digital ticketing system, the club warned that fans should arrive no later than one hour before kick-off to ensure that they are in their seats for the start of the game.
The incident appeared to have been resolved ahead of the action getting underway, however, with few empty seats visible as the game kicked-off at 2pm as planned.
