English and French fan groups will unite to protest BlueCo’s multi-club model, marching toward Stamford Bridge to amplify their call for change.
What marks a significant escalation of discontent among the fanbase is the Chelsea protest group NotAProjectCFC's confirmation of a joint demonstration with four major Strasbourg supporters’ organizations, according to The Telegraph.
This international show of solidarity is planned for Saturday, April 18, before Chelsea’s home match against Manchester United. Members of Ultra Boys 90, Kop Ciel et Blanc, Federation des Supporters du RCS, and Pariser are expected to travel from France to London.
The march aims to present a united front against the multi-club model implemented by the BlueCo consortium, which, according to fans, is undermining the traditional values and identities of both institutions.
The protest groups have released a statement highly critical of the current situation at their clubs: “As a consequence of the continuous erosion of values at both football clubs, we have decided to join together to act with a clear and unanimous message: BlueCo Out!
“Members of Ultra Boys 90, Kop Ciel et Blanc, Federation des Supporters du RCS, and Pariser have kindly agreed to travel to London and march alongside us in a protest march toward Stamford Bridge before the match.”
Tensions have reached a critical point following a season marked by turmoil. Strasbourg’s fanbase is fed up with a transfer policy focused exclusively on young players, while Chelsea’s hiring of manager Liam Rosenior from the French team in January has further fueled accusations that Strasbourg is being treated as a feeder club.
“We invite supporters from both clubs to join us on this march,” the fans’ statement concluded. “We aim to shed light not only on the incompetence and mismanagement at Chelsea but also on the restrictions imposed by multi-club ownership, where teams like Strasbourg are being stripped of their identity and where long-standing and respected fan groups are being censored and suppressed by brutal ownership.
“We believe this could be a landmark moment in football history, where fans from clubs in different countries come together to do what is right, not just for our individual clubs, but for the sport as a whole. Together we can force change.”
Chelsea currently sits in sixth place in the Premier League and is still reeling from its elimination from European competitions at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain. Its recent performance has been inconsistent, winning only one of its last three matches across all competitions. Its next Premier League opponent will be Everton.
Strasbourg, meanwhile, sits in eighth place in Ligue 1 with 37 points from 26 matches, six points away from a European spot for next season. It is now prepared to face Nantes on Sunday.
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