The Football Association has said it is working on a way of allowing Chelsea fans to buy tickets for the club’s FA Cup semi-final match at Wembley despite sanctions against its Russian owner.

Chelsea has been told it cannot sell new tickets and merchandise from its store after restrictions were imposed by the government on Roman Abramovich over his links to Vladimir Putin’s regime.

But Julian Knight, chairman of the digital, culture, media and sport select committee, said it was “ridiculous” that Wembley would be half-full for the showpiece occasion next month.

He said: “Chelsea is more than just its owner, it’s a living organism with huge importance to its fans and community.”

Chelsea were facing the prospect of facing Crystal Palace next month with none of their fans present in the 90,000 capacity stadium.

But the FA later said in a statement that it was now hoping for a sell-out crowds.

“We are working with the government on a method to achieve this whilst respecting the sanctions that are currently in place on Chelsea.”

Chelsea sale: Deadline for bids passes – here’s who submitted offers to buy the football club

Nick Candy lines up Korean backing for Chelsea bid as club’s sale goes to injury time

US investment firm Clearlake makes deadline day signing for Boehly’s Chelsea bid

The sanctions had already resulted in limited numbers travelling to Middlesbrough for Chelsea’s quarter final victory on Saturday.

Chelsea requested prior to the game that it should be played behind closed doors in the interests of “sporting integrity” – a request that was withdrawn after intense criticism.

Mr Abramovich is now trying to sell Chelsea in what has become a fiercely-contested auction including bidders such as London-based property developer Nick Candy and a consortium led by LA Dodgers owner Todd Boehly.

Read more: Candy sweetens bid for Premier League club as advisers decide on takeover shortlist

The club’s sale is being overseen by US bank Raine Group which is currently attempting to narrow down the list of more than a dozen bidders to two or three.

A decision on that shortlist is expected either on Monday evening or early on Tuesday and the process to sell the club is likely to take at least another month.

Related posts:

PM shifts attention to tackling gang and pet crime as ‘sleaze’ row rumbles on Stormont minister threatens legal action over Northern Ireland post-Brexit trading Sturgeon offers Johnson olive branch to discuss COVID recovery plans during Scotland visit Scotland to lift most legal COVID restrictions next week, Sturgeon confirms ‘I don’t feel snubbed’: Sturgeon on PM declining invitation to meet People can go abroad ‘without looking over their shoulders the whole time’ following travel changes Jacob Rees-Mogg fires warning shot over national insurance hike to fund social care Farmers to be paid to look after soil – but charities say plans for sustainable land break Brexit promises Pre-departure COVID tests return for all UK arrivals – as another country added to red list Reducing isolation period would ‘help’ but govt has to be ‘careful’, minister says PM dodges question on if he attended Downing St party in lockdown PM attended ‘bring your own booze’ event in No 10 garden during first lockdown