Boehly sorry after Chelsea banner tweaked for ‘Ted Lasso’

LONDON — Chelsea owner Todd Boehly has apologized after the wording on a banner honoring late club great Ray Wilkins was tweaked while producers of TV show “Ted Lasso” filmed scenes at Stamford Bridge for one of its episodes. Since Wilkins’ death at the age of 61 in 2018, a banner has been on permanent display at Chelsea’s stadium reading: “They don’t make them like Ray anymore.” For the “Ted Lasso” episode that aired recently on Apple TV+, the wording on the banner was altered to say “Roy” instead of “Ray” — a nod to a character in the series, Roy Kent, who is a fictional former Chelsea player returning to the club. That led to some fans criticizing Chelsea, with the club’s former stadium announcer, Neil Barnett, taking aim at Boehly and co-owner Behdad Eghbali — who led the purchase of the London team in May last year from Roman Abramovich — in a tweet late Wednesday. Ross Wilkins, the son of Ray Wilkins, didn’t appear to take offense, tweeting Thursday: “This is TV and certainly nothing to do with the new regime.” The Chelsea Supporters’ Trust said the banner was paid for by fans and many believe altering the wording was “disrespectful.” “We have expressed our disappointment to club officials,” the trust said.