"We ask the government to allow our supporters to have access to tickets," the club said in a statement released on Monday.

"Meetings are taking place every day in order to find a solution. In addition, the Premier League and the FA (the English football federation, editor's note) are also discussing with the government about the sporting integrity issues raised (by this situation ) if they do not allow supporters to attend the matches,” reads the text.

Under restrictions imposed in response to the Russian military invasion of Ukraine, Chelsea can no longer sell tickets to their non-subscriber supporters, to opposing supporters traveling to Stamford Bridge, or to Blues supporters wishing to see their team when playing away.

The government has placed the Premier League club under a special license after taking a battery of measures against the Russian oligarch last week.

The license is established to prevent Chelsea and, by extension, Abramovich - described by the UK government as being in Russian President Vladimir Putin's inner circle - from generating new revenue.

The club's license has already been amended since it was first imposed, with the spending limit for matchdays rising from 500,000 pounds (597,000 euros) to 900,000 pounds (1.075 million euros).

The London club has indicated that it will try to have it further amended to get as close as possible to normal operation.

Chelsea's German coach Thomas Tuchel replaces his players opposed to Newcastle United at Stamford Bridge, March 13, 2022 JUSTIN TALLIS AFP

Sunday, in the wake of Chelsea's victory against Newcastle (1-0), coach Thomas Tuchel joked that he was ready to "drive a minibus" for team travel, if necessary.

The spokesman for the British Prime Minister for his part considered "totally inappropriate" the fact that Chelsea supporters regularly chant the name of Russian owner Roman Abramovich.

"We are well aware of the strength of the feelings which surround a popular club but that does not excuse an attitude which is totally inappropriate at the present time", he asserted before adding: "I think that the people can show their passion and support without resorting to these kinds of things."

The reigning European champion club must go to Lille on Wednesday for a round of 16 second leg of the Champions League.

In the first leg, three weeks ago, he won 2-0.

© 2022 AFP