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

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.

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.

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'.

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.

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