Chelsea face Champions League BAN: UEFA could block Blues from playing next season’s competition

Robin Bairner

• Updated: 29 Mar 2025 17:33 GMT
• 3 min read

News

Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea are fighting hard to secure a place in the Champions League next season, yet even if the Blues finish in the top four, there is now the very real UEFA will prevent the Stamford Bridge club from playing in the competition next season.

Chelsea find themselves fourth in the Premier League and, therefore, in position to qualify for the competition. Competition is fierce, though. There are six clubs, including Manchester City, Newcastle United and Aston Villa, within striking distance of them.

But even if Maresca’s side win this mini-battle, their hopes of playing in the 2025/26 Champions League could be dashed from within as fellow BlueCo club Strasbourg look increasingly likely to claim a spot in the tournament from France.

Liam Rosenior’s side overcame Lyon 4-2 on Friday to move fifth in Ligue 1. While they are not in a qualifying position for the competition, their form suggests that breaking into these spots in France’s top-flight is just a matter of time.

Strasbourg, led by Chelsea loan stars Djordje Petkovic, Diego Moreira and Andrey Santos, who has been dubbed "the best player in the world" by his team-mates, have won six of their last seven Ligue 1 matches, earning 19 points from a possible 21.

UEFA will foil BlueCo Champions League ambitions

Current UEFA rules mean that Chelsea and Strasbourg cannot both compete in the same European competition next season. This is because both clubs are owned by BlueCo, so there is a conflict of interest at play.

Should both clubs qualify for the Champions League, it will be the club ranked higher in their domestic competition that will be awarded the place. Worryingly for Chelsea, Strasbourg are now within striking distance of second in Ligue 1 while the Blues will simply be happy to settle for fourth in the Premier League.

If both teams finish in the same league position to qualify for the same European competition, it will be Chelsea who get the nod based on their better UEFA coefficient score.

The club missing out could be demoted to the Europa League or miss out on continental football entirely.

Possible loopholes

BlueCo may need to look for a loophole to prevent the Blues from being blocked from the Champions League.

This could involve a change of ownership structure, which is how Red Bull Salzburg and RB Leipzig have managed to negotiate the problem.

BlueCo could also reduce their ownership stake in one of the clubs – this would naturally be Strasbourg – with Manchester United and Nice given dispensation to play together in the Europa League because Ineos only have minority control at Old Trafford.