Why European club are set to play their Champions League games at Chelsea or Fulham next season

European Club Set to Play Champions League Games in English Stadium Next Season…

Shakhtar Donetsk are facing yet another venue headache heading into next season’s Champions League campaign.

The Ukrainian giants have been without a permanent European home for more than a decade, after being forced out of the Donbass Arena in 2014 and having to play their league matches in Lviv, some 600 miles away.

UEFA safety restrictions tied to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine have left the club wandering the continent for their European fixtures, having previously staged matches in Poland, Germany and Slovenia.

Now, reports suggest a new solution could be found, with two London clubs in the Premier League emerging as potential hosts.

Shakhtar’s Stadium Shortlist Revealed

As reported by The Chelsea Chronicle, Ukrainian journalist Ihor Burbas discussed the situation on the BurBuzz YouTube channel, revealing that Brentford’s compact ground has already been ruled out due to capacity concerns, leaving two Premier League venues in contention. “As far as I have heard and understand, the stadium is too small for them at Brentford, which only holds 17,000 people,” Burbas said.

“And now, as far as I understand, Shakhtar is choosing between two stadiums. This is Stamford Bridge, Chelsea’s home Stadium, and Craven Cottage, Fulham’s home stadium. Well, in principle, Craven Cottage accommodates about 25,000, that is, more than Brentford.”

It must be said, that with Chelsea failing to qualify for any European football at all for the coming season, renting their stadium out for a side playing in the Champions League, a competition they won just four years ago, might not sit well with their fans.

How Groundshare Deals Work for Host Clubs

Arrangements like this are typically treated as lucrative commercial rentals for the stadium owner, with the host club charging a flat fee per match or taking a cut of gate receipts and hospitality sales, while covering costs like stewarding and policing falls to the visiting side.

It offers a useful secondary revenue stream on otherwise quiet midweek nights, though it does require careful scheduling to protect the pitch and avoid clashes with the host’s own fixture list.

Tottenham have previously profited handsomely from renting out their stadium for a variety of events, while Hamburg’s Volksparkstadion has also cashed in before by hosting Shakhtar’s European nights in the past.