• Football
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • Home
  • Football
    • England
    • Transfer News
    • Premier League
    • Champions League
    • Lionel Messi
    • Cristiano Ronaldo
    • EA FC 25
    • Wrexham
  • Boxing
    • Tyson Fury
    • Anthony Joshua
    • Oleksandr Usyk
    • Mike Tyson
    • Jake Paul
    • Logan Paul
  • UFC
    • Dana White
    • Conor McGregor
    • Khabib Nurmagomedov
    • Jon Jones
    • Paddy Pimblett
    • Joe Rogan
  • Other Sport
    • Athletics
    • Formula 1
    • MMA
    • Motorsport
    • NBA
    • Darts
    • NFL
    • Snooker
    • Wrestling
    • Tennis
    • Cricket
    • Golf
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • UNILAD
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube
Chelsea could be BANNED from Champions League if they finish in top five this season amid UEFA warning

Home> Football> Football News> Chelsea

Published 19:25 9 May 2025 GMT+1

Chelsea could be BANNED from Champions League if they finish in top five this season amid UEFA warning

The Blues currently sit in fifth place in the Premier League - enough to secure a Champions League spot for next season.

Ryan Smart

Ryan Smart

Featured Image Credit: Getty

Topics: Chelsea, Premier League, Champions League, UEFA, Ligue 1

Ryan Smart
Ryan Smart

Live in constant hope of the top flight as a Preston North End fan. Written in the past for SPORF, GiveMeSport and more.

Advert

Advert

Advert

Chelsea could face the prospect of being banned from next season's Champions League if they finish in the top five in the Premier League.

Enzo Maresca's side are currently in fifth place in the league, which would guarantee them a Champions League qualification spot through UEFA's co-efficient system.

They are guaranteed to finish in at least seventh place, which would secure Conference League football.

Advert

The Blues will also contest the Conference League final later this month against Real Betis, with victory there securing Europa League qualification.

But there are two potential factors that could prevent Chelsea from playing in the Champions League should they qualify - with the first of those potentially costing them European football altogether.

The Times reported last month that the Blues were facing a potential UEFA sanction due to alleged breaches of spending limits, with UEFA not allowing them to count income from the sale of their women's team or hotels to sister companies on their balance sheet.

It is claimed that, while more unlikely, a ban from European football is a possibility, with the Blues more likely to be placed under a strict spending plan and given a financial penalty instead, with a threat of further sanction if the plan is breached.

Advert

Now, BBC Sport report that Chelsea are in further talks with UEFA over their current ownership structure.

BlueCo, who hold a majority share in the Blues, are also majority owners of French side Strasbourg, who are mounting an unlikely charge for Champions League qualification under manager Liam Rosenior.

Article 5.02 of UEFA's regulations forbids two teams controlled by the same party from competing in the same competition.

It is claimed that the likely outcome of the talks is for Strasbourg to be moved into a 'blind' trust, while removing 'any conflicts like board members or staff working across the two clubs'.

Advert

If a resolution cannot be reached, UEFA would have the power to block either Strasbourg or Chelsea from their competition.

In such a scenario, the team who finish in the higher position in their league table would be awarded the European place, with a similar scenario potentially facing Nice and Manchester United - both at least partially owned by Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS - ahead of this season's Europa League.

UEFA permitted both clubs to play in the competition after Ratcliffe moved Nice into an alternative structure.

There is no reason to suggest, at this stage, that there would be any alternative resolution involving Strasbourg and Chelsea, but the French club's requirement to finish in third place to qualify for the Champions League could at least present a dilemma for Blues chairman Todd Boehly and the rest of the ownership.

Advert

Maresca's side would then have to finish above fourth to 'guarantee' their spot in a worst-case scenario.

Choose your content:

6 hours ago
7 hours ago
10 hours ago
  • 6 hours ago

    Erik ten Hag to get rid of Bayer Leverkusen player for the second time after selling him to the club while in charge of Man Utd

    Former Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag looks poised to get rid of the same player for two different clubs.

    Football
  • 7 hours ago

    Fans lose their minds and say 'announce Yamal' after Barcelona superstar spotted in Premier League club's shirt

    Lamine Yamal sent fans wild this week after being seen in an iconic English football shirt.

    Football
  • 7 hours ago

    Sir Alex Ferguson ripped into former Man Utd star for what he allowed Cristiano Ronaldo to do

    Sir Alex Ferguson lectured the former Manchester United player following the incident with Cristiano Ronaldo.

    Football
  • 10 hours ago

    Football legend reveals he was on the verge of signing for Man Utd after idolising Old Trafford star for years

    The player represented the likes of Barcelona, Inter and AC Milan during his career but never got the chance to play for Manchester United.

    Football
  • UEFA issue statement on Crystal Palace being banned from Europe next season
  • Chelsea could be banned from Champions League after winning Conference League amid UEFA warning
  • UEFA could ban huge team from the Champions League and sanction two others
  • UEFA issue bans to two referees who were scheduled to take charge of Champions League games this season