Chelsea fans plan protest against ownership as they question 'present day competitiveness'
The protest is scheduled to take place before the Premier League fixture against Brentford at Stamford Bridge on January 17.
Chelsea fans are planning a protest against co-owner Behdad Eghbali and the wider club hierachy, arguing they have “failed to meet the standards” required.
The protest proposals come one day after the departure of head coach Enzo Maresca. The Athletic reported Liam Rosenior, head coach at fellow BlueCo-owned Strasbourg, is the leading candidate to replace Maresca.
The protest has been planned by a fan group titled ‘Not a Project CFC’ and is scheduled to take place before the Premier League fixture against Brentford at Stamford Bridge on January 17.
In a statement posted on X, the group argue that since the takeover by a consortium led by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, of which Eghbali is the most visible and actively engaged member, in May 2022, the club has been “run less like an elite club and more like a player trading farm focused on churn, speculation, and long-term potential at the expense of present day competitiveness”.
Chelsea’s transfer strategy has largely focused on high-potential players under the age of 23. The club missed out on Champions League qualification during the first two seasons under their new ownership, with head coaches Thomas Tuchel, Graham Potter and Mauricio Pochettino all departing, before qualifying last term under Enzo Maresca. The club also won the Club World Cup and Conference League during the 2024-25 campaign.
The supporter group acknowledged the ambition demonstrated by Chelsea’s transfer outlay, having spent £284million during the 2025 summer transfer window, but argued the club “prioritised long-term potential while sacrificing the present”.
The supporter group statement alleges that the responsibility for the club’s direction lies with the club’s sporting leadership structure, naming Eghbali alongside sporting directors Paul Winstanley, Laurence Stewart, Joe Shields and Sam Jewell.
The statement concludes by listing six demands: “clear accountability”, “end micromanagement culture”, “flexibility over volume” in regards to recruitment, “board stability”, “proper management support” and “championship ambition”.
Chelsea supporters previously protested against the club ownership in February, with fans voicing discontent over the lack of success under Boehly and Clearlake, and questioning the transfer spend.
Chelsea are fifth in the Premier League, three points behind Liverpool in fourth. In the league phase of the Champions League they are 13th and on course to progress to the knockout stages.