Chelsea Staff Damage UEFA Champions League Trophy

Certain officials at the Blues are feeling a little blue in the face after their latest debacle, which involved three staff members at Stamford Bridge damaging the club's 2012 UEFA Champions League trophy.

The same trophy that cost eight managers and over £1.6 billion in player wages to Chelsea has reportedly had one of the handles broken when club officials posed with the prestigious trophy.

It was immediately sent to a silversmith in London for repair.

The Daily Mail reports that the site visit—which included pictures with the trophy—was unauthorized and that the club officials did not have permission to be in the building out of hours. Chelsea chief executive Ron Gourlay is also conducting an internal investigation regarding the incident.

Three staff members have already been suspended by the club indefinitely.

A club spokesperson stated that:

"

The trophy was accidentally damaged while pictures were being taken. It was minor damage and has already been repaired. We don't make comment on staff matters...

"

The incident is a huge embarrassment for a club that defied the odds to clinch Europe's most prestigious tournament and finally satisfy the desires of owner Roman Abramovich. 

Most clubs keep the trophy in a secure cabinet for supporters and officials alike, but Chelsea clearly did not exercise enough caution. 

In hindsight, the possibility of such damage was somewhat inevitable, and Chelsea were perhaps fortunate that the trophy did not incur further damage. 

It could have been much worse—they could have pulled a Sergio Ramos.

Now that would have been breaking news.

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