Chelsea and RC Strasbourg, both owned by BlueCo, sit fifth in their respective league tables and that could soon become a problem. The Blues are in a race for Champions League football against four other teams and therefore every point matters with four weeks of the season remaining.
Enzo Maresca's side currently sit on a tally of 60 but above Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa, who are also on that number of points, due to goal difference. Manchester City and Newcastle United in third on 64 points and fourth with 62 points, respectively, are in strong positions to qualify.
However, that could yet change with the Blues unbeaten in their last five league outings. A 4-1 win over Djurgardens in Sweden earlier this week has also seen them take one step closer to reaching the Conference League final.
Winning that competition will only secure Europa League football however, and Chelsea would much rather be back in Europe's elite competition next season. With games to come against fellow top-five chasers Newcastle and Forest, it is very much in their own hands.
However, it is entirely possible that Chelsea do not play in the Champions League next season even if they qualify. That is because Strasbourg are enjoying a sensational season in Ligue 1 and their latest victory has put them in a great position to also be in the Champions League.
On Saturday evening, Liam Rosenior's side beat champions Paris Saint-Germain 2-1 which in turn saw their unbeaten run extend to 12 games. Just two points now separate Strasbourg, Lille, Nice, Monaco and Marseille, though the latter have a game in hand.
BlueCo will certainly be delighted at the rise of Strasbourg but it could come at a cost with UEFA rules previously preventing two clubs under the same control from competing even in different European competitions.
However, those regulations were altered last year with it done to accommodate the increasing number of clubs under the same ownership. In this season's tournament, Manchester City and Girona were allowed to compete in the Champions League with UEFA releasing a statement on why that was sanctioned.
It was stated that "no one is simultaneously involved, directly or indirectly, in any capacity whatsoever in the management, administration and/or sporting performance of more than one club participating in a UEFA club competition; and no one has control or decisive influence over more than one club participating in a UEFA club competition.
"More specifically, the significant changes made to the ownership, governance, and financial support of the concerned clubs, substantially restrict the investors’ influence and decision-making power over more than one club, ensuring compliance with the multi-club ownership rule during the 2024/25 season.
"In particular, the concerned investors have transferred their shares in Girona FC and OGC Nice to independent trustees through a blind trust structure established under the supervision of the CFCB First Chamber."
UEFA's rules concluded that: "The effective control and decision-making of these clubs rest solely under control of the trustee; following the resignation of its board members, the investor is no longer represented on the board of directors and has no capacity to directly appoint new directors to the board; the trustee appointed the new directors to the board.
"The investors have no ability to influence sporting related decisions; the investors have no ability to influence the club through veto rights or contractual arrangements entered into with other shareholders; the investors are restricted in their ability to provide subsequent financing; the club’s financial statements will be deconsolidated from the investors’ holding company."
Though matters are handled on a case-by-case basis, it is quite clear that Blue-Co may have to drop their Strasbourg stakes or transfer them. One potential loophole, if both clubs were to reach the Champions League, surrounds the staff employed at each club.
If there aren't any employees that represent both clubs, it could go in the favour of Blue-Co and as Strasbourg have their own board and president, it certainly seems that could improve their chances of both featuring.
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Chelsea flag prior the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final Leg One match between Chelsea FC and Real Madrid at Stamford Bridge. (Photo by Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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