Chelsea civil war described as Game of Thrones-esque power struggle

By now, everyone is probably aware that there is a major form of conflict taking over at Chelsea Football Club. The Blues are owned by a rather peculiar and rookie footballing conglomerate consisting of many people. Wealthy American Todd Boehly and Iranian–American business and investor Behdad Eghbali lead the consortium totally inexperienced in the running of a Premier League team. A paradigm which was set by similar but successful EPL ownership groups before them.

Nevertheless, the BlueCo boys knew best - in reality, they really didn't - and did it their way like 'Old Blue Eyes' Frank Sinatra. Yet Boehly and Eghbali's plans and innovation appear to be north of a £1 billion mistake. As a figurative war breaks out between the pair, contemporary descriptions of the situation from national media are that of a Game of Thrones-style power struggle. Surely it's not that bad!?

Todd Boehly versus Behdad Eghbali at Chelsea

Like I say, any football fan would have had to be under a proverbial rock for almost a couple of weeks to avoid recent revelations emanating from Stamford Bridge. And the suggestions were shocking. Indeed.

Boehly wants to buy out Clearlake Capital's stake. While Eghbali and his cohorts' desire is to incorporate the former's shares entirely. What a mess; in fact, this latest train wreck is akin to, or even overshadows, the transfer omnishambles of the past two years or so. Wow.

Are Boehly and Eghbali comparable to some of the abominable worst Game of Thrones characters such as Ramsay Bolton, Tywin Lannister, Walder Frey or Joffrey Baratheon? No, I wouldn't have thought so. GoT is on a higher threshold than other very brutal books and shows.

Yet, the duo have risen to an elite level of commerce. Businessmen in that milieu are figuratively boardroom killers: Ice-cold antagonists and essentially captains of industry who do not suffer fools gladly. Nor, I presume, do these genuine executives tolerate clever people mildly. Ruthlessness is the only way to get to the absolute apex.

Equivalent names like Elon Musk or Warren Buffett are, on the whole, well-liked entrepreneurs and financiers. Though anyone on that upper echelon will have showcased merciless skills in their high-powered professions in order to succeed.

Although, the latest news from the Bridge corresponding to HBO's masterpiece is CFC's contemporary power vacuum. Apparently in the know BBC reporters have outlined one main revelation: Eghbali is the main force on Fulham Road, Boehly is not. And it is the latter pushing for a swift resolution:

"This Game of Thrones-like situation throws back to early 2022 when Abramovich was forced to sell Chelsea rapidly.

Boehly earned fame through the bidding process, was made chairman until 2027 and appointed himself interim sporting director.

In a dramatic, chaotic start to the ownership Chelsea spent big, signing Raheem Sterling, Wesley Fofana, Marc Cucurella, Kalidou Koulibaly and Pierre Emerick Aubameyang in a £255m spend under Boehly's initial leadership.

Thomas Tuchel was then sacked and replaced by Graham Potter in September 2022 after a joint-review from both sides of the ownership 100 days into their tenure. But that call was ultimately led by Boehly, with Potter lined up as the replacement before Tuchel was sacked.

When Boehly stepped down as sporting director in January 2023 - to be replaced by former Brighton duo Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart - Eghbali began gaining control.

He involved himself in deals to sign Mykhailo Mudryk for £89m and Enzo Fernandez for £107m in a record £320m January transfer window.

The divide began to grow around the end of the 2022-23 season, when Chelsea finished 12th, their worst finish in the Premier League era. Boehly entered the dressing room to give a public dressing down to the squad following the defeat by Brighton.

Sterling is believed to have taken the brunt of his criticism, and Boehly took a step back from day-to-day running of the club.

Eghbali assumed more control in the following months, although the decision to appoint Mauricio Pochettino as manager was made by both owners, alongside the co-sporting directors."