Drogheda United appealing expulsion from Conference League to CAS
Drogheda United have announced they are appealing their impending expulsion from the Conference League to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
The Irish top-flight club have been notified by UEFA that they are facing expulsion due to the governing body's multi-club ownership rules.
Drogheda were set to compete in the same UEFA competition as Danish club Silkeborg IF, who have the same majority owners, Trivela Group. Drogheda described the development as 'harsh and unfair'.
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UEFA rules forbid individuals from being involved with multiple clubs in the same competition, a regulation Drogheda has accused of being 'inconsistently communicated and reinforced'.
The club said in a statement: 'We have been in active dialogue with UEFA for months and have put forward a share disposition, trust arrangements, and various other undertakings consistent with recent CFCB (Club Financial Control Body) precedent, only to have all of those efforts rebuffed.'
The deadline to address any multi-club issues was on March 1. UEFA confirmed Drogheda have not been admitted to the Conference League because of multi-club ownership issues and that they have appealed to CAS, but they have declined to comment until the legal proceedings have concluded.
Silkeborg would be admitted to the Conference League at the expense of Drogheda due to their higher league finish last season.
Crystal Palace are facing a similar situation as John Textor's Eagle Football possesses a 43 per cent stake in the south London club and an 88 per cent stake in Lyon, who have also qualified for the Europa League.
Palace qualified for the Europa League after their FA Cup final victory over Manchester City, but their participation in a first European campaign is in jeopardy if they do not come to an agreement with UEFA. Palace have presented their case to European football's governing body.
The official rules state: 'No club participating in a UEFA club competition may, either directly or indirectly, hold or deal in the securities or shares of any other club participating in a UEFA club competition; … be involved in any capacity whatsoever in the management, administration and/or sporting performance of any other club participating in a UEFA club competition; or have any power whatsoever in the management, administration and/or sporting performance of any other club participating in a UEFA club competition.
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'No one may simultaneously be involved in any capacity whatsoever in the management, administration and/or sporting performance of more than one club participating in a UEFA club competition.
'No individual or legal entity may have control or influence over more than one club participating in a UEFA club competition, (including) holding a majority of the shareholders' voting rights; having the right to appoint or remove a majority of the members of the administrative, management or supervisory body of the club; being a shareholder and alone controlling a majority of the shareholders' voting rights pursuant to an agreement entered into with other shareholders of the club; or being able to exercise by any means a decisive influence in the decision-making of the club.'
Last year the regulations were relaxed to allow owners to be involved in multiple clubs in different competitions.
Under this update, Palace would be allowed to compete in the Conference League but their other general partner, David Blitzer's Global Football Holdings company also owns a stake in Danish side Brondby, who have qualified for the third-tier UEFA competition.
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