Unvaccinated Real Madrid, Chelsea stars face UCL exile after French COVID-19 law change

European football governing body UEFA have said Real Madrid and Chelsea are facing the prospect of losing unvaccinated players for the away legs of their Champions League last 16 ties after a law change in France.

Europe's premier club competitions resumes next month with Real due to travel to Paris Saint-Germain on Feb. 15 for the first leg of their knockout tie, while Chelsea play Lille at home a week later with the return game on March 16.

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French lawmakers have approved a change which is set to come into effect on Monday, modifying the country's coronavirus health pass into a vaccine pass. This means only vaccinated people or anyone who has recently recovered from COVID-19 will be able to enter large arenas.

French sports minister Roxana Maracineanu insisted last week that it would apply to «all spectators, athletes, French or foreign professionals» raising serious doubts over the involvement of any unvaccinated players in either Real or Chelsea's squads.

UEFA told ESPN in a statement on Thursday that clubs would have to adhere to the rules in each country but they are still in discussions over whether exemptions will be possible.

«UEFA is liaising with the relevant stakeholders across Europe ahead of the resumption of UEFA's club competitions in February,» read the statement.

«The specific conditions under which matches are played in each country are subject to the decisions of the competent authorities in that country.

»Each team will in principle be required to comply with the applicable rules in the country where the match takes place, but the specific competition Annexes — still under elaboration — which contain special rules due