BLUECO'S HEADACHE: CAN CHELSEA AVOID STRASBOURG CONFLICT BEFORE THE MARCH 1 CUTOFF
Chelsea and sister club Strasbourg, both owned by BlueCo, must comply with strict UEFA multi-club ownership rules by March 1 to avoid one being banned from Europe.
Sources at Football Insider say Chelsea could break UEFA's multi-club rules if they and Strasbourg, also owned by BlueCo, end up in the same European competition this season.
BlueCo, the group led by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital that bought Chelsea in May 2022, has also owned a majority stake in Strasbourg since the summer of 2023.
UEFA warned clubs on December 8 that they need to follow multi-club ownership rules by March 1. Earlier this year, Crystal Palace was removed from the Europa League for not meeting these rules.
According to sources, this is a big issue for teams like Chelsea and Strasbourg. They need to act fast to avoid breaking the rules.
Why was Crystal Palace removed from the Europa League
Palace made it to the Europa League after winning against Manchester City in the FA Cup final last May.
But there was a problem with former co-owner John Textor's shares in Lyon, which also qualified for the Europa League. UEFA doesn't allow clubs with the same owners or directors to compete in the same European competition.
Textor sold his Palace shares to Woody Johnson so Oliver Glasner’s team wouldn't lose their spot in the competition.
But UEFA decided that the American billionaire hadn't met the multi-club ownership rules by the March 1 deadline, and the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) turned down Palace's appeal.
The Eagles were then moved to the Conference League, and Nottingham Forest took their place in the Europa League.
Irish team Drogheda United and Slovak club FC DAC 1904 also lost their Conference League spots for not following the multi-club rules.
Which clubs besides Chelsea could break UEFA’s rules
BlueCo avoided breaking the rules this season because Chelsea qualified for the Champions League and Strasbourg made it to the Conference League.
Right now, there won't be an issue for 2026-27 because of where both clubs are in their leagues, but that could change.
Chelsea is currently fifth in the Premier League, which could get them a Champions League spot depending on how English clubs do in Europe this season. Strasbourg is eighth in Ligue 1.
Other Premier League teams could also break UEFA’s rules, as several owners have multi-club models.
Everton is now in the running for a European place, which could cause a problem for The Friedkin Group (TFG), which also owns Italian team Roma.
Also, if Forest makes serious progress in the Europa League, Evangelos Marinakis could have a conflict of interest because he owns Greek champions Olympiakos.
Marinakis gave up control of Forest when it looked like both clubs would qualify for the same European competition last season. However, the documents were submitted past the March 1 deadline in April.
In the end, there was no problem because Olympiakos qualified for the Champions League, and Forest was promoted to the Europa League after Palace's demotion.
LIAM ROSENIOR’S "DETAILED TALKS" WITH CHELSEA LEADERSHIP REVEAL AGGRESSIVE SUMMER TRANSFER STRATEGY
Liam Rosenior confirms no Chelsea players want to leave, including Enzo Fernandez and Cole Palmer, despite UCL exit.
Liam Rosenior is currently engaged in thorough discussions with Chelsea’s leadership about their plans for the summer transfer window. Interestingly, none of the players has approached him expressing a desire to leave.
After Chelsea’s exit from the Champions League last-16 against Paris Saint-Germain, speculation swirled around Enzo Fernandez’s future, while names like Cole Palmer and Moises Caicedo have also been linked with moves away since Rosenior took charge in January. Ahead of their trip to Everton, Rosenior addressed questions about possible departures if the team misses out on Europe’s top competition again. He also spoke about the ongoing efforts to bring new players in.
“We're having very detailed talks about where we need to strengthen,” he said, referring to conversations with the sporting director team, headed by Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart. “I’ve shared my thoughts on what’s needed, and we’re mostly aligned on the approach, which is encouraging. But the priority is also handling the present properly. It’s crucial to be in a good spot now. Planning is important, but so is winning in the moment. That’s why I’m here, and I’m having positive discussions with ownership and the sporting directors about it.”
Rosenior emphasised that key players like Enzo Fernández want to remain at Chelsea. After Fernandez’s recent interview with ESPN Argentina, where he was noncommittal about his future following the heavy loss to PSG, Rosenior reached out to him personally.
“Our plans don’t hinge solely on qualifying for the Champions League; there are many variables,” Rosenior explained. “We need to make the best of the situation we’re in and stay as strong as possible. I maintain a close relationship with the players; we talk beyond football about their families and their lives. I’m particularly close with Enzo and the others. Since I arrived, no one has told me they want to leave in the summer. The focus is really on improving together as a team and figuring out what it takes to win right now.”
When asked specifically if that applies to Fernandez, Palmer, and Caicedo, Rosenior was clear: “They love it here.”
WHY ENZO FERNANDEZ REFUSES TO COMMIT TO CHELSEA’S FUTURE PROJECT
Enzo Fernandez has sparked Chelsea exit fears after refusing to commit to his future following a 2-8 defeat to PSG.
Chelsea fans barely had time to process a brutal 8-2 Champions League thrashing by PSG on Tuesday when vice-captain Enzo Fernandez stirred things up even more. ESPN Argentina asked him about his future, and instead of assurance, Fernandez left everyone guessing about whether he’d still be at Stamford Bridge next season.
His answer? “I don’t know. There are eight games left, and the FA Cup. There’s the World Cup, and then we’ll see.” Not exactly what supporters needed to hear after a rough night. Honestly, Enzo, now’s probably not the best time for uncertainty.
People have been gossiping about Fernandez’s next move for a while now. Real Madrid and PSG keep cropping up as possible destinations, despite Chelsea sources insisting they won’t sell him. He’s locked into a contract until 2032, but if he pushes for an exit, who knows if that changes.
Fernandez holds a hefty price tag of £107 million; when he arrived in January 2023, it was a British record at the time. He’s backed it up this season, stacking up 12 goals, 6 assists, and playing more minutes than anyone else on the squad.
Still, Chelsea has been searching for someone who can play that No. 10 role where Fernandez has spent most of the season. Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers is on their wishlist, though nothing’s happened yet. Rogers, 23 and once a Manchester City academy kid, has been lighting it up at Villa lately. He signed a contract extension in November, but rumours about his future just won’t die.
Rogers is definitely on Chelsea’s radar. If Fernandez leaves this summer, and really, that’s still wide open; Rogers could be a target.
You can expect Chelsea to be busy in the market soon. They need a centre-back after missing out on Jeremy Jacquet in January. Douglas Luiz was briefly considered but wound up at Villa, so midfield is still in the mix. Plus, given their attacking troubles this season, they’ll be looking to upgrade up front too.
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