Champions League: UEFA to Ban Unvaccinated Chelsea, Real Madrid Players for Round of 16 Ties

Union of European Football Associations, UEFA will have to ban Chelsea from including unvaccinated players in their squad on their match trip to French League One side, Lille.

UEFA is the organizer of the annual club football competition, UEFA Champions League, which is contested by top-division European clubs.

Thomas Tuchel’s men will welcome Les Dogues at Stamford Bridge for the round of 16, first leg of the tournament on the 22nd of February.

The returning leg to hold at Stade Pierre-Mauroy is therefore fixed for 16th of March.

UEFA has provided in its principle that every club should abide by local laws around COVID.

That said, France trying to stiffen its COVID-19 rules, insisted that all professional athletes contending in the country must be vaccinated against the deadly virus.

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By extension, Real Madrid are also affected by the rule as they’ll have to travel to France, for a knockout clash with Paris Saint-Germain on February, 15th.

Therefore, Carlo Ancelotti will also have to leave his unvaccinated players behind in the first leg of the round of 16 against the Red-and-Blues.

Meanwhile, UEFA holds that it’s still in discussion with stakeholders over its plans for the knockout stages of the European competitions and that more guidance will be provided.