Middlesbrough now selling Chelsea’s FA Cup ticket allocation to their own fans after Blues supporters blocked

MIDDLESBROUGH have announced they will be selling Chelsea's ticket allocation for Saturday's FA Cup clash to their OWN fans.

As part of their ongoing sanctions, the Stamford Bridge side were banned from selling any more away tickets for the Riverside this weekend.

And after a bizarre row over the situation, Boro have jumped at the chance to hoover up Chelsea's allocation to dish out to their own supporters.

In all, the Championship side are now flogging a further 3,200 tickets to home fans.

A read: "We have an additional 3,200 tickets available to Boro fans for Saturday’s Emirates FA Cup quarter-final tie against Chelsea at the Riverside.

"These tickets have been returned to the club by Chelsea due to government sanctions."

Blues chiefs had pleaded with the Government to allow them to have some supporters on Teesside.

Once that request was rebuffed, they audaciously demanded the match go ahead without ANY fans 'for matters of sporting integrity'.

However, the FA confirmed Chelsea had agreed to withdraw their outrageous appeal in a humiliating U-turn after Middlesbrough promised to 'resist Chelsea's actions in the strongest terms.'

Earlier, Gary Lineker had led the outrage following the Blues' bizarre request.

Lineker tweeted: "So Chelsea have now removed their request for the FA Cup tie at Middlesbrough to be played behind closed doors. The right move.

"Not sure whose idea it was to make the request in the first place. What on earth were they thinking?"

Middlesbrough host Chelsea on Saturday, with kick off in the quarter-final tie at 5.30pm.