Premier League sides Chelsea and Tottenham have been granted an exception by UEFA after it allowed both teams to play European games on the same night next month.
Chelsea will play in the Conference League knockouts on Thursday, March 16, the same night Tottenham Hotspur are set to play their Europa League last-16 tie.
UEFA rules usually stipulate that two clubs from the same city, or playing within a radius of 50km, cannot both feature on the same night. Given that Stamford Bridge and the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium are within 16km of each other, that would appear to break UEFA’s rule, but they have given special dispensation for both games to go ahead.
A general view of Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, home of Tottenham Hotspur (Photo by Andrew Kearns – CameraSport via Getty Images)
According to the Daily Mail, the clubs have been given the green light to stage their matches, which are set to be confirmed at the draw for the next stages of both competitions on Friday.
Both London clubs are set to play at home in the second legs of their respective games.
The two clubs will enjoy that potentially-decisive home advantage after finishing in the automatic qualifying spots in the initial league phase. Chelsea finished first comfortably while Tottenham ended up fourth.
Chelsea will face either Real Betis, Copenhagen, Gent or Heidenheim in the Conference League. Meanwhile, Tottenham will play AZ Alkmaar, Real Sociedad, Galatasaray or Midtjylland in the Europa League.
