Tottenham and Chelsea deals mean FA are 'abusing' Wembley Stadium, claims Conservative MP

James Benge9 February 2017

The Football Association has been accused of “abusing” Wembley Stadium by planning to rent it out to Tottenham and Chelsea in the forthcoming years.

Conservative MP Bob Blackman, whose Harrow East constituency is close to the national stadium and who “grew up in the shadow of Wembley and the Twin Towers”, had previously called for a debate in Government time over the use of the national stadium.

Last month the FA formally applied to Brent Council to use the full 90,000 capacity of Wembley for a further 31 major events from August 1 2017 to July 31 2018 with Tottenham set to spend the season at the national stadium whilst work is carried out on their new 61,000-seat stadium next to White Hart Lane.

Chelsea also hope to use Wembley during their £500m redevelopment of Stamford Bridge, though they have explored the possibility of spending three years at West Ham’s London Stadium and Twickenham. The Rugby Football Union have rejected the possibility of welcoming a football club to the latter ground.

Blackman, a Tottenham season ticket holder, said in a Parliamentary debate on a motion of no confidence in the FA: “Wembley Stadium has always been our national stadium. It is the shrine we go to for FA Cup finals, League Cup finals, internationals and other events. However it is now being transformed, not only for Tottenham to play there for a year but potentially for Chelsea to play there for three years for their home matches.

“That to me is wrong because it’s abusing our national stadium, which should be kept for those all-important matches that fans want to come and see. If it’s turned into a stadium which clubs will use for a potentially four year period or longer I think that’s an abuse of our national stadium and we shouldn’t be allowing it.

Chelsea's new £500m Stamford Bridge stadium redevelopment

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“However we have the FA, who are in charge of that national stadium, who seem to be amateurs in dealing with that high-finance in football. We should encourage the professionalism to come in so that we don’t have that position ever stronger.

“It’s important that the FA understands that if it doesn’t transform itself then government action is going to be required.”

In Pictures | Inside Tottenham's new stadium

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Spurs have already played their Champions League games at Wembley and will continue their Europa League campaign at the national stadium, starting later this month when they take on Genk.

The FA have previously said that allowing Tottenham to play at Wembley allows the governing body to reinvest the money it earns from additional matchdays into the grassroots of the game.

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