Official: Chelsea withdraw request to play Boro game without fans

Chelsea have agreed to 'remove their request' to play Saturday's FA Cup game against Middlesbrough without fans in attendance, the FA have confirmed in a statement.

The FA have stated they are working on making sure Chelsea fans would be able to attend games in the future.

Earlier today, Chelsea asked the FA to consider holding the game behind closed doors. The reason was that the Blues could not sell tickets to due restrictions placed upon them by the government.

Chelsea's request led to an extremely negative reaction, with Middlesbrough calling it 'bizarre' while their chairman went even further and said that words sporting integrity and Chelsea 'do not belong in the same sentence'.