Injury and race row floor Blues

All money from ticket sales will go to the cause, with Abramovich donating an additional $1m (£790,000). Now this.

With the spotlight already on the club, Chelsea executives here were left fuming.

How do you solve a problem like fans who think nothing of using language known to cause offence?

Once again head coach Sarri was left fielding the kind of questions football managers should not have to answer.

Especially when – for a game that meant nothing to the Premier League title-chasers – the action on the pitch was quite entertaining.

Sarri had made 10 changes for this match, starting teenager Ethan Ampadu and 22-year-old Andreas Christensen in central defence.

Eighteen-year-old Callum Hudson-Odoi impressed on the right of a front three while Ruben Loftus-Cheek also made his mark in midfield.

Experienced campaigners Willian, Morata and Cesc Fabregas were among the starters and it was the Brazilian midfielder who curled in a delicious free-kick to open the scoring after half an hour.

Ampadu headed into his own net from a corner just two minutes later and Vidi grew in confidence.

Defender Loic Nego put Vidi ahead with a fantastic volley 11 minutes after half-time but Giroud came off the bench to hit back with a stunning free-kick equaliser 15 minutes from the end.