Chelsea Owners BlueCo Face Two Days Of Protests Over Liam Rosenior Departure

Chelsea’s owners, BlueCo, are facing two days of protests this weekend after Strasbourg’s angry fans announced actions over Liam Rosenior’s departure. The protests are set to begin with a demonstration by the group "Not a Project CFC" before Saturday’s match between the West London club and Brentford, following Rosenior’s move to Stamford Bridge. The following day, Strasbourg’s Ultra Boys 90 plan to protest, issuing an angry statement that stresses Rosenior’s departure was a signal "another concrete manifestation of RCS's subordination to Chelsea FC's interests within BlueCo". The Strasbourg fans’ statement also questioned what local authorities think about public funds, asking, "What do local authorities think about this, who have invested 160 million euros in renovating Meinau stadium?"

“"We don't care about Clearlake, they don't care about us”

BBC

In London, BBC Sport described Chelsea’s fan backlash as a “moment of reckoning” for BlueCo after Monday’s 3-1 defeat by a second-string Nottingham Forest left the Blues unable to finish fifth. The BBC also reported that BlueCo are on trial with supporters, with Not A Project CFC calling for major change and announcing two further protests. One will take place on Wembley Way before the FA Cup final against Manchester City, and another urges fans to turn their backs in the 22nd minute of their final home game against Tottenham. The BBC said the movement includes director Danny Finkelstein, after a conversation with supporters was leaked in which he said it was "obvious" the Blues were building one of the best teams in the world. In Strasbourg, ucvradio.pe quoted Ultra Boys 90 saying, "Regardless of future results, this decision illustrates the vertical operation of multi-ownership: Chelsea helps itself, Strasbourg suffers," linking the protests to BlueCo’s structure.

While protests are planned around Rosenior’s exit, Strasbourg’s summer recruitment is also framed as part of the BlueCo-linked “Chelsea–Strasbourg axis” described by Foot Mercato. Foot Mercato said Strasbourg is preparing to welcome new reinforcements, with the total to at least 17 signings in the transfer window, and it listed multiple arrivals including Panichelli (€16.5m) and Högsberg (€15m). The outlet also reported that Fabrizio Romano said everything is in place for the arrival of the 21-year-old Paraguayan Julio Enciso for €20 million, with a contract through 2031 and an additional one-year option. In the BBC’s account of Chelsea’s situation, the stakes include Uefa monitoring the club under a settlement agreement from last summer that will regulate spending on players, alongside Chelsea’s £262m Premier League-record pre-tax loss in its most recent accounts. The BBC also said Chelsea are ninth in the league with just three matches left and a cup final to come, leaving BlueCo’s “moment of reckoning” tied to results and fan pressure.

“BlueCo, Chelsea's owner group, is facing a weekend of protests after a group of fans linked to the club's sister club in Strasbourg announced new protests, a week after their former head coach Liam Rosenior moved to Stamford Bridge”

ucvradio.pe