FAI admits it didn't send important UEFA circular on multi-club ownership to Drogheda United
As the fallout from Drogheda United's UEFA Conference League expulsion rumbles on, it has emerged that the FAI didn't forward an important circular in relation to multi-club ownership to the Louth club.
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RTÉ News
an hour ago
- RTÉ News
Shamrock Rovers already have one hand on title
While the League of Ireland season is only just past halfway, Richie Towell reckons the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division title race is already showing signs of being done and dusted. His former club Shamrock Rovers earned back-to-back wins over reigning champions Shelbourne and Drogheda United over the past few days and sit nine points clear of bitter rivals Bohemians, who albeit do have two games in hand. Speaking on the RTÉ Soccer Podcast, ex-Dundalk and Hoops midfielder Towell said Rovers are showing real signs of building up a head of steam while most of their erstwhile rivals are struggling to find momentum. "I think at the moment they're in cruise control. They're absolutely cruising it," he said. "To be honest, I said it a couple of weeks ago that they were my favourites to win it. But I think they have one hand on it already. "And not just based on how good they are. I don't think any other team is good enough to catch them. "You have Bohemians who are the closest to them and they have a couple of games in hand. Maybe they can put up a small bit of a title challenge. "But for the rest of them, you see Shels, you see Pat's, I don't think any of them have the quality or the confidence to go on a proper run and try and challenge Shamrock Rovers. "You see the depth in the squad. I even know some lads can't get into the squad that would walk into probably any other team in the league which is absolutely crazy, so Shamrock Rovers are in absolute cruise control at the moment." The mood within Stephen Bradley's squad may be positive but that's a contrast to Drogheda United. Although that is in no way related to on-pitch matters, with Kevin Doherty's team putting up a good fight on Monday night on the way to losing 2-1 at Sullivan and Lambe Park and currently sit in the top half of the table. It's more related to the blow of being excluded from the UEFA Conference League due to multi-club ownership rules, with the verdict in their appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport being announced hours before kick off on Monday. Both Towell and ex-Drogheda and Republic of Ireland winger Keith Treacy sympathised with Doherty and his players on the podcast, with Towell highlighting how dreams of a European dalliance were dashed for personnel who might not be guaranteed to get that opportunity again. "This is some boys' livelihoods. There's potential earnings there for lads in European games that they would never get the opportunity to earn playing in the League of Ireland. That's after being taken away from them," he said. "Subconsciously, (players) are going to be thinking when the draw is made today, when the games are on in July, 'we should be out there', and all of a sudden they've no (European) games. "They have two decisions to make now, Drogheda's players do. They either say 'it's going to hinder our performance and let it get our heads down', or else they can say, 'Let's use this to our advantage. We're going to be fresh, we're not going to have any games, let's rest, recuperate and be ready to attack the league.'"
The 42
2 hours ago
- The 42
FAI says they flagged European concerns with Drogheda owners last November
THE FAI SAYS it informed Drogheda United owners Trivela Group of concerns regarding the League of Ireland's club participation in the UEFA Conference League as soon as they were notified of the American investment firm's takeover of Silkeborg on 19 November last year. A report in the Irish Examiner last night stated that UEFA wrote to the FAI last October to inform them about changes to the multi-club ownership deadline procedure for European competition. Trivela are 100% owners of Drogheda and have an 80% stake in Silkeborg. Advertisement It was the manner of the communication of those changes – moving the deadline forward from June to March this year – that formed the basis of Drogheda's appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport after they had been excluded following the Danish club's qualification. In the statement sent to The 42, the FAI pointed out that Trivela did not own Silkeborg at the time of the initial UEFA Circular on 7 October and 'this was not sent by the FAI to the club.' Along with their Danish counterparts DBU, the FAI confirmed they informed UEFA 'of the multi-club ownership scenario regarding Drogheda United FC and Silkeborg IF via the standard procedures.' Drogheda's place in tomorrow's draw for the second qualifying round has been taken by Shamrock Rovers who also qualified for Europe's third tier club competition, and the FAI have also confirmed that all clubs in the men's Premier Division had been invited by the association to apply for a European licence but that 'but only the four clubs who qualified on sporting merit completed the process.' The statement in full is below: 'At the time of publication of the UEFA Circular in question on 7 October 2024, Drogheda United FC's ownership group did not own Silkeborg IF therefore this UEFA Circular was not sent by the FAI to the Club. When the FAI were notified of Trivela Group's takeover of Silkeborg IF on 19 November 2024, the FAI informed the Trivela Group of our concerns regarding Drogheda United FC's participation the UEFA Conference League should Silkeborg IF qualify for the tournament due to UEFA's Multi-Club Ownership Regulations. UEFA were informed of the multi-club ownership scenario regarding Drogheda United FC and Silkeborg IF via the standard procedures by both the FAI and DBU. All ten Men's Premier Division teams were invited by the FAI to apply for a UEFA Licence in December but only the four clubs who qualified on sporting merit completed the process. On 7 May 2025 the awarding of UEFA Licences was announced by the FAI following the completion of the Independent Licensing Committee review.'
Irish Independent
4 hours ago
- Irish Independent
FAI say they warned Drogheda about European concerns in November
The FAI say they contacted the owners of Drogheda United last November to express concern about the implications of their takeover of Danish side Silkeborg. Drogheda have been kicked out of Europe on account of the Trivela Group's purchase of Silkeborg, with Uefa enforcing multi-club rules that say two clubs in the same competition cannot be owned by the same entity. Silkeborg got the nod over the FAI Cup winners because they finished higher in their domestic league.
