The Supporters Federation of French club Strasbourg has launched a scathing criticism of the move that saw former manager Liam Rosenior join English side Chelsea.
Rosenior, 41, was announced as the new head coach of the London club earlier this week as a replacement for Enzo Maresca, who left the club on New Year’s Day.
Both Chelsea and Strasbourg are owned by the same company – BlueCo ownership group, led by the American businessman Todd Boehly and the Clearlake Capital.
The consortium acquired ownership of the English side in 2022, before full takeover of the French side in 2023.
However, the supporters’ club have publicly voiced their displeasure against the owners and recently protested in the club’s last league game, a 1-1 draw at Nice last weekend.
“The transfer of Liam Rosenior marks another humiliating step in Racing’s subservience to Chelsea. For two and a half years, along with others, we have been trying to raise the alarm about this [BlueCo ownership]”, the supporters group said in a statement.
“The problem goes far beyond the mid-season sporting impact and the ambitions of a young coach. It is structural; the future of French club football is at stake.”
Rosenior joined Strasbourg in 2024 and guided the team to a seventh placed finish in his first season in charge.
The Blue and Whites have appointed Gary O’Neil as his replacement, announcing the decision on Tuesday.
“Every additional contortion by Marc Keller, every extra minute spent at the helm of the club, is an insult to the tremendous work accomplished before 2023. What was seen by many as an outrageous move last September increasingly looks like sound advice: he must leave. Now”, they continued.
“The FSRCS will coordinate closely with the three other associations actively fighting against multiple ownership, as well as all people of goodwill, to define the next steps.”
Strasbourg will face Avranches in the French Cup Round of 32 on Saturday, in their first outing after the departure of Rosenior.
Olakitan is a young writer with a strong passion for sports, having gained experience with IndyPress and Nimelssa Press. His enthusiasm for sports inspired him to cover events both within his school and beyond. With a deep understanding of the game and a refined skillset, he brings sports coverage to a broad, global audience in a way that’s engaging and accessible.
