Chelsea could face a Champions League ban unless they comply with a UEFA demand. With just three matches left in the Premier League season, the Blues are currently fifth, two points clear of Nottingham Forest in sixth.
Thanks to the Premier League’s co-efficient score, a fifth-place finish would secure a spot in next season’s Champions League. The last time Chelsea graced Europe’s elite competition was in the 2022/2023 season.
During that campaign, they made it to the quarter-finals, only to be ousted by Real Madrid. The task now for current manager Enzo Maresca is to ensure his team finishes in the top five this season.
Maresca has also guided the Blues to the Europa Conference League final, where they’ll face off against Real Betis. Winning this competition or finishing sixth in the Premier League would earn Chelsea a place in next year’s Europa League.
However, the ownership situation at Stamford Bridge could pose challenges for the Blues. The club is currently owned by BlueCo, a consortium that also holds a controlling stake in Ligue 1 outfit Strasbourg, reports the Mirror.
Strasbourg are currently sixth in the French top-flight, which would qualify them for the Europa Conference League. But with just two games left, they’re only a point behind Monaco, who occupy the last Champions League group stage qualification spot.
They’re also level on points with Nice, who are currently fourth, but trail on goal difference. The team that finishes fourth in Ligue 1 this season will secure a place in the Champions League qualifiers.
Strasbourg are gearing up for their final two matches against Angers and Le Harve, both of whom are fighting to avoid relegation. Victory in these games could see Strasbourg clinch a spot in the Champions League, but this success might come with complications.
UEFA’s regulations prohibit multi-club ownership models from participating in their tournaments. As per BBC Sport, BlueCo has been engaging with UEFA since January to transition to a structure that complies with these rules.
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This would involve placing Strasbourg under a ‘blind’ trust, eliminating any potential conflicts involving board members or staff who have roles at both clubs. Alternatively, BlueCo may opt to decrease their ownership in one of the clubs to meet UEFA’s requirements.
Nottingham Forest’s owner Evangelos Marinakis has taken similar steps in anticipation of Champions League qualification, with Olympiakos likely to enter the competition as Greek league champions.
Legally, Marinakis is no longer a “person with significant control” over the entity that owns Forest. Despite this change, the Greek shipping tycoon remains dedicated to Forest, mirroring Chelsea’s owners’ commitment to Strasbourg.
Under the guidance of English manager Liam Rosenior, Strasbourg have maintained an unbeaten streak since the March international break, which includes a victory over reigning champions PSG last week. Should Chelsea and Strasbourg both qualify, UEFA will also forbid any transfer dealings between the two clubs within the same competition.
