SportsFeature
Gen Z is shaking up IndyCar's Millennial, Gen X established order
IndyCar's championship sees a Gen Z takeover with young drivers leading the pack.
ESPN News1 min read
Sports
Chelsea and Strasbourg have 'blind trust' in place
TL;DR
Chelsea and Strasbourg have established a 'blind trust' to comply with UEFA regulations regarding multi-club ownership. This structure aims to ensure both clubs can qualify for European competitions without conflict.
Key points
- Chelsea and Strasbourg are owned by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital.
- A 'blind trust' structure was established to meet UEFA regulations.
- UEFA will decide on compliance in the summer.
Mentioned in this story
ChelseaStrasbourgTodd BoehlyClearlake CapitalUEFA
[Getty Images]
Chelsea and Strasbourg, which are both owned by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, have measures in place should they qualify for the same European competition.
According to public documents, board-level changes have been made at the French club, while senior sources have confirmed that a "blind trust" structure – commonly used to meet multi‑club ownership rules in European football – was put in place before Uefa's compliance deadline to ensure the clubs meet regulations.
The Uefa Club Financial Control Body (CFCB) would ultimately decide in the summer whether those changes satisfy its requirements. Under Uefa rules, if a club is excluded from European competition due to non‑compliance, it would be the team that finishes lower in its domestic league.
If Chelsea and Strasbourg were to qualify for the same European competition, the two clubs would also be prevented from conducting transfer business between each other during the 2026‑27 season, having completed 12 deals between them this campaign.
Chelsea's hopes of qualifying for the Champions League have faded following three consecutive Premier League defeats. They currently sit sixth, four points off the top five, and risk ending up in the Europa League next season.
Strasbourg, meanwhile, have three potential routes into the Europa League. The French side could qualify through a top‑five or top‑six Ligue 1 finish, or by winning either the Coupe de France or the Conference League, having reached the semi‑finals of both competitions.
There is also a scenario in which both clubs qualify for the Conference League, while Strasbourg's chances of reaching the Champions League remain mathematically possible but unlikely.
Speaking at CAA's World Congress of Sports event in Los Angeles, Chelsea co‑owner Behdad Eghbali said he believed regulatory reform was needed to allow further investment within multi‑club ownership structures.
"We do think there needs to be more regulatory reform to enable multi‑club ownership," Eghbali was quoted as saying by Sports Business Journal.
Q&A
What is the purpose of the 'blind trust' between Chelsea and Strasbourg?
The 'blind trust' is designed to comply with UEFA's multi-club ownership rules, allowing both clubs to participate in European competitions without conflict.
Who owns Chelsea and Strasbourg?
Both Chelsea and Strasbourg are owned by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital.
What will UEFA decide regarding Chelsea and Strasbourg's compliance?
UEFA's Club Financial Control Body will determine in the summer whether the changes made at Strasbourg satisfy compliance requirements.
