Tottenham and Chelsea ‘to benefit from major UEFA rule change’
Tottenham and Chelsea are both set to benefit from a major rule change that UEFA intends to roll out from next month.
Spurs have struggled domestically this season, exiting both cup competitions in quick succession earlier this month to pile sack pressure on Ange Postecoglou, while also sitting 12th in the Premier League.
However, Postecoglou does still have a chance of making a success of his second season at Tottenham as they are into the knockout rounds of the Europa League.
Spurs will find out their last-16 opponents on Friday (21 February) ahead of the two-legged tie taking place in March.
And ahead of that showdown, against whoever it may be, UEFA are set to announce a change to a long-standing rule.
UEFA set to change rule for Tottenham and Chelsea
The Daily Mail reports [20 February] that UEFA are set to give Tottenham and Chelsea the green light to play at home on the same night from next month in European competitions.
Previously, teams from the same city were not allowed to play on the same day. However, with Chelsea in the last 16 of the UEFA Conference League, it has given the governing body a possible headache.
Rather than complicating matters, it is suggested that Tottenham and Chelsea could not potentially play on the same day, and even the same time, if they are drawn at home in the same leg as each other.
Who could Tottenham face in Europa League last 16?
Tottenham will play either AZ, Galatasaray, Midtjylland or Real Sociedad in the next round of the Europa League, for which they are many peoples’ favourites to win.
Chelsea, meanwhile, could be drawn with Real Betis, Gent, Copenhagen or Heidenheim in Friday’s draw in Nyon.
| Qarabag (h) | W 3-0 |
| Ferencvaros (a) | W 2-1 |
| AZ (h) | W 1-0 |
| Galatasaray (a) | L 3-2 |
| Roma (h) | D 2-2 |
| Rangers (a) | D 1-1 |
| Hoffenheim (a) | W 3-2 |
| Elfsborg (h) | W 3-0 |
This decision by UEFA is nothing more than common sense. Currently, teams who play at home within 50km of each other cannot play on the same night.
On one hand, it does make sense in that police resources are stretched. However, the alternative would be making one of the sides play on a different day of the week.
That would then have a knock-on effect on other fixtures, with Premier League games potentially having to be moved. Thankfully, that has all now been avoided.