Why Chelsea's Conference League play-off clash against Swiss side Servette will not be shown on TV in the UK - explained

Chelsea find themselves in UEFA's third-tier competition after a somewhat disappointing domestic campaign last season. The Blues finished sixth in the Premier League, which would have secured them a spot in the Europa League but Manchester United's FA Cup triumph got them relegated to the Europa Conference League.

Despite the anticipation surrounding Chelsea's return to European competition, fans will have to find alternative ways to watch the game, as traditional broadcasting channels will not be airing the match. The main reason behind the lack of television coverage is the absence of broadcasting rights for the play-off stage of both the Europa League and Europa Conference League in the UK. Unlike the Champions League, where play-off matches are televised, the lower-tier competitions do not have the same broadcasting agreements in place for their early rounds.

Chelsea have taken advantage of the fact that the broadcasting rights for these play-off matches are available for the clubs involved to sell independently. In response, they have announced that they will stream both legs of the tie against Servette on their official website and App. For a fee of £4.99, fans can gain access to the live stream and follow the action from the comfort of their homes.

Success in the first leg at Stamford Bridge would give the Blues a significant advantage in the second leg which is scheduled for Thursday, August 29, at Stade de Geneve. However, in between the two European fixtures, they will also travel to Molineux to face Wolves in the Premier League on Sunday.