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A Chelsea supporters' group has announced two additional protests targeting ownership group BlueCo.
NotAProjectCFC extended invitations to fans of Ligue 1 club Strasbourg, another BlueCo-owned side, to join a formal demonstration in mid-April ahead of the 1–0 loss to Manchester United, and have since organized two more protests before the season concludes.
Supporters are being urged to make their dissatisfaction heard before the FA Cup final against Manchester City on May 16, with a second demonstration planned shortly after against Tottenham Hotspur.
In addition to demands for BlueCo to relinquish ownership, NotAProjectCFC confirmed that a banner questioning the performances of co-sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart will be displayed throughout the protests.
"While we acknowledge the significance of both fixtures, we believe these actions are entirely necessary in order to send a clear public message that we have no confidence in the current ownership or the direction the club is taking," a statement read.
Why Are Chelsea Fans Protesting?
BlueCo took over at Stamford Bridge in 2022 and, by 2023, had devised a strategy aimed at transforming Chelsea into one of the top clubs in Europe. With the team now struggling to even secure a top-half finish in the Premier League following Monday's embarrassing defeat to Nottingham Forest, it is evident that things have gone far off course.
Under the leadership of co-owner Behdad Eghbali, Chelsea assembled a decision-making team comprising Winstanley, Stewart, and recruitment heads Joe Shields and Sam Jewell. The approach centered on heavy investment in young talent, developing them into elite players, winning silverware, and offloading fringe players for substantial fees.
A staggering $2 billion (£1.5 billion) has been poured into building Chelsea's squad, yet there is precious little to show for it. Minimal on-pitch success and disappointing returns from player sales contributed to Chelsea recording the largest pre-tax loss in football history at $350 million (£262 million).
Fan discontent had been simmering for some time, though much of it was subdued by the relative progress made under Enzo Maresca. A Club World Cup triumph over the summer appeared to lay the groundwork for a strong campaign, but things unraveled in January when a rift between Maresca and the club's hierarchy led to his departure.
The appointment and rapid dismissal of Liam Rosenior as his successor did little to calm supporters, who direct their anger more at those shaping the club's vision than at the players failing to deliver on the pitch.
Following Rosenior's departure, media briefings indicated Chelsea would enter a period of "self-reflection," though those hoping for substantial structural changes are widely expected to be let down. NotAProjectCFC are determined to push for that transformation.
"Given the extraordinary levels of spending on the men's first team since BlueCo took over the club, this situation is completely unacceptable," the statement continued.
"The problems at this club extend well beyond any individual manager. Until genuine change is made to the environment in which they work, the identity of those managers will be irrelevant. We also have no confidence that the club is genuinely entering any period of 'self-reflection' as claimed. We want to see actions, not words.
"Announcing a period of self-reflection is hollow if those in charge do not publicly identify the mistakes they have made or explain how they intend to address them.
"These protests will continue beyond the end of this season and will not stop until we have driven meaningful change."