Chelsea make quick U-turn on call for Boro tie to take place behind closed doors

Chelsea have withdrawn their “bizarre” request to get Saturday’s FA Cup quarter-final against Middlesbrough at the Riverside played behind closed doors.

A Football Association spokesperson confirmed the club have stepped back from the demand following “constructive talks”.

News of Chelsea’s initial request earlier on Tuesday had incensed the hosts, who labelled it “bizarre and without any merit whatsoever”.

An FA spokesperson said: “After constructive talks between the FA and Chelsea, the club has agreed to remove their request for the Emirates FA Cup quarter-final tie against Middlesbrough to be played behind closed doors.

“The FA remains in ongoing discussions with Chelsea, the Premier League and the Government to find a solution that would enable both Chelsea fans to attend games and away fans to attend Stamford Bridge, whilst ensuring sanctions are respected.”

The Blues have lobbied the Government hard over relaxations to the operating licence put in place after owner Roman Abramovich was sanctioned by Downing Street.

Russian-Israeli billionaire Abramovich must not profit in the UK under the Government sanctions and Chelsea are blocked from selling any more tickets under the terms of their new licence.

And, after talks with the Government failed to yield a softening on that ticket stance, the Blues questioned the “sporting integrity” of the match should Chelsea fans be barred from attending.

Boro did not hold back in their response, claiming it was “ironic in the extreme” that the Blues were seeking to invoke sporting “integrity” as the reason to get the game played at an empty stadium.

The Teessiders said in a statement: “We are aware of Chelsea’s request to have Saturday’s Emirates FA Cup sixth-round tie played