In the border region of Alsace, pride in local traditions runs deep – and nowhere is that more evident than in its leading football club, Racing Club de Strasbourg. The team, long a symbol of the area’s unique Franco-German cultural mix, now finds itself in turmoil.
A takeover by BlueCo, the ownership group behind Chelsea, has sparked fierce division among supporters. What once was a fan-driven recovery story has become, in the eyes of many, a fight to protect the club’s soul.
After the financial collapse in 2011, Strasbourg had to rebuild from the fifth tier of French football. Under the leadership of former France international Marc Keller, the club rose through the ranks, reconnecting with its community and breaking attendance records even in the lower leagues.
In June 2023, things changed dramatically. BlueCo, a group led by American investors Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali, purchased the club. The same group also owns Chelsea, making Strasbourg part of a growing multi-club network.
To many, the sale represented a betrayal. Keller, once praised for his commitment to local values, is now being accused by some fans of abandoning the project’s roots. The result has been a fractured fanbase and consistent protests during matches.
One of the loudest concerns from the Strasbourg faithful is the loss of autonomy. The presence of Chelsea loanees like goalkeeper Djorde Petrovic and midfielder Andrey Santos, along with the recent agreement to transfer Mamadou Sarr to Chelsea for £11.9m, has amplified fears that Strasbourg is now just a development squad.
Alexandre Hummel, a Strasbourg Supporters’ Club member, summed up the sentiment: “We’re no longer a club with our own sporting future. We exist to serve another team’s ambitions.”
He noted how the team had cultivated strong local connections during its climb back to Ligue 1, earning crowds of up to 20,000 in the lower divisions. That spirit, he says, has been eroded. Though current results are promising under coach Liam Rosenior, fans like Hummel say victories now come with mixed emotions.
Under Rosenior, Strasbourg is enjoying its most competitive era in years, with a young, energetic squad averaging just 21.3 years of age. Despite finishing in the lower half of the table in most recent seasons, European competition is now a possibility.
Rosenior’s ties to English football and his alignment with BlueCo’s player development goals were key in his hiring. He sees synergy in the project, praising both the owners and Keller for their vision. But many fans view the shift in strategy as a loss of independence rather than an opportunity.
Football analyst Jonathan Johnson believes BlueCo always faced an uphill battle winning over Strasbourg fans. He suggests the lack of clear, early communication worsened the backlash, even though the club now benefits from financial stability and a stadium renovation.
Johnson argues that BlueCo’s investment likely saved the club from financial trouble, especially during a difficult period for Ligue 1, which has faced shrinking broadcast revenues. Still, for many in Alsace, the trade-off has been too high.
Hummel disagrees with the notion that BlueCo was the only option. “We didn’t owe banks, we weren’t in crisis. We just handed over our future,” he said. “I’d rather be back in the lower leagues with our independence intact.”
While multi-club ownership continues to spread across Europe, Johnson notes it’s a model that must be handled carefully. Fans don’t see their clubs as secondary parts of a bigger machine. In Strasbourg, the tension between progress and tradition shows no signs of resolution.
