Chelsea news: Blues could be forced to play Champions League tie without unvaccinated players
- Sean Fisher
- 20 January 2022
Chelsea's Champions League clash with Lille in March will be affected by France's new Covid-19 rules, which state unvaccinated athletes can't enter the country.
France's new Covid-19 regulations denying unvaccinated athletes entry into the country could mean unvaccinated Chelsea players will be absent from their Champions League last-16 tie against Lille.
UEFA statement regarding vaccination rules for #UCL last 16:
— Absolute Chelsea (@AbsoluteChelsea) January 20, 2022
"UEFA is liaising with the relevant stakeholders across Europe ahead of the resumption of UEFA's club competitions in February."
[via @espn]
Therefore, it seems unlikely that UEFA will insist on matches being played in neutral venues, and with Chelsea the first team to make the trip to France since the rule change, any unvaccinated players in Thomas Tuchel's squad are expected to be denied entry.
It'll certainly be a point of interest, not only for how France, UEFA and Chelsea handle the situation, but it will also highlight which stars have decided against taking the vaccine.
