Khaberni - Chelsea FC faces an unexpected hurdle in the Champions League, which might force them to play one of their games at a neutral venue instead of Stamford Bridge, according to UEFA regulations.
Chelsea qualified after finishing sixth in the group stage, meaning it will not have the home advantage in the round of 16 and possibly the quarter-finals, unlike clubs such as Arsenal, Bayern, Liverpool, and Tottenham, which will have the home advantage for the second legs of their matches.
A strange rule prevents Chelsea from playing at their stadium in the Champions League
The additional issue comes from a lesser-known UEFA rule, which prevents more than one game from being played in the same city on the same night, in this case, London.
Since the other London clubs, Arsenal and Tottenham, finished the group stage in a higher position than Chelsea, they have the priority to play at their ground in the second leg of the round of 16, which will take place on March 17 and 18. This may force Chelsea to move to a neutral stadium.
UEFA rules
To avoid any scenario, Chelsea must adhere to the following UEFA regulations:
- Determine an alternative stadium in advance and announce it during the week of the match.
- Reverse the order and play the first match at home instead of playing the second leg at an alternative stadium.
In addition to the above, another option is for Chelsea to play the match on Thursday, March 19. However, this could create issues with television broadcasting and scheduling.
Chelsea will face one of the following teams in the round of 16: Monaco, Paris Saint-Germain, Qarabag, or Newcastle.
