Chelsea FC deny fans Sunday victory parade

by Hammersmith and Fulham Press Office
15/05/2008

Chelsea Football Club has so far turned down the option of a victory parade on the Sunday immediately following the Champions League final - should they win the tournament.

Hammersmith & Fulham Council, together with the Metropolitan Police, Transport for London, Kensington & Chelsea Council and Wandsworth Council are all opposed to Chelsea FC’s request to hold any parade - should they win - on the Thursday immediately following the final. Holding the parade on a weekday evening would bring severe rush hour disruption and chaos to west London. 

Councillor Nicholas Botterill, Cabinet Member for Environment at H&F, said: "We hope Chelsea FC win on Wednesday and if they do it would be a fantastic achievement for the club and for London as a whole. It would be only right to celebrate one of the biggest prizes in world sport with a victory parade.

"Therefore we are extremely disappointed that Chelsea seem reluctant to hold the celebration on the Sunday or Bank Holiday Monday when fans from all across London could enjoy the occasion.

"We will continue talking to the club and continue to seek a solution. However, holding a parade on Thursday evening is not an option considering that it would bring a large part of west London to a standstill in rush hour, having a major adverse impact on schools - particularly pupils taking exams, businesses, tens of thousands of commuters and residents. 

"That is completely unacceptable considering there is a very sensible option on the table to hold this event on Sunday or Bank Holiday Monday."

-Ends.-