Football
Liam Twomey, Chelsea correspondent 7y

Chelsea forget to wear black armbands in first half of FA Cup final

LONDON -- Chelsea forgot to wear black armbands for the first half of Saturday's FA Cup final against Arsenal at Wembley after a dressing room mix-up, sources have confirmed to ESPN FC.

A minute's silence was held prior to kick-off as a mark of respect for the victims of Monday's terror attack at Manchester Arena that killed 22 people and injured more than 100, with Prince William, Football Association chairman Greg Clarke, Manchester mayor Andy Burnham and Culture Secretary Karen Bradley laying commemorative wreathes pitchside.

But Chelsea's players did not take to the field wearing black armbands as arranged, after the FA Cup jackets they wore coming out of the tunnel were placed on top of them in the Wembley dressing room.

Club officials quickly realised the accidental error and instructed the players to put on the armbands before the start of the second half, which they did.

Following the match, Chelsea's head of communications Steve Atkins said the oversight was a result of confusion in the dressing room before the players took the field.

"It was an unfortunate mistake. There was some last minute confusion about kit and what the players would wear on their way out, jackets or no jackets," Atkins said.

"At the last minute they decided to wear the jackets and the black armbands were left where they were. We rectified it as soon as possible after the game was started and the players all came out in the second half with them.

"It would be very unfair to accuse the players or Chelsea of being disrespectful after the week everyone has had and the messages that have come from the club, our coach and players."

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