Chelsea may be excluded from the UEFA Champions League next season unless they comply with a specific UEFA regulation.
With three matches remaining in the Premier League, the Blues are currently in fifth position, two points ahead of Nottingham Forest in sixth.
Thanks to England’s UEFA coefficient, the top five teams this season are expected to qualify for the Champions League.
The club last competed in the tournament during the 2022/2023 season.
Under Enzo Maresca, Chelsea have also reached the Europa Conference League final, where they are set to face Real Betis.
Securing victory in that competition or finishing sixth in the Premier League would see Chelsea qualify for the Europa League.
However, their ownership could present complications. BlueCo, the group that owns Chelsea, also holds a majority stake in Ligue 1 side Strasbourg.
Strasbourg are currently sixth in France and in contention for a European spot. With two matches left, they trail Monaco—who occupy the final Champions League spot—by just a point.
UEFA regulations prohibit clubs under the same ownership from participating in the same European competition.
According to BBC Sport, BlueCo has been in discussions with UEFA since January to adjust its structure to meet compliance.
What you should know
Chelsea’s Champions League hopes may depend on whether BlueCo can resolve its multi-club ownership issue with UEFA in time.
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