Drogheda United confirm UEFA set to deny club's entry to Conference League
DROGHEDA UNITED HAVE confirmed that they will be submitting an appeal to the Court for Arbitration for Sport (CAS) after UEFA notified them that they face expulsion from this season's UEFA Conference League.
In a statement released today, Drogheda say they are 'devastated' by the governing body's 'harsh and unfair' decision after what they described as months of negotiations to reach an acceptable proposal.
Advertisement
Drogheda also believe the rule changes from UEFA over the last year have been 'inconsistently communicated and enforced across various clubs.'
The Louth club are set to miss out on European action, and over €500,000 in prize money, due to multi-club ownership rules as they are owned by American investors Trivela Group and qualified for the Conference League after winning last season's FAI Cup. However, Silkeborg IF are also part of Trivela's structure and won the Danish cup equivalent. Their higher place finish in the domestic league also went in their favour.
'The club can confirm that it has been notified by UEFA that we are facing expulsion from the UEFA Conference League due to Drogheda United and Silkeborg IF having both qualified for the same competition,' a club statement began.
'This is despite significant efforts by the club to work constructively with UEFA to make necessary ownership and governance changes to allow both to compete over the past several months. We are devastated by this potential development and believe it would be both harsh and unfair, given the way brand new rule changes this year have been, in our view, inconsistently communicated and enforced across various clubs.
'We are now appealing the decision to the Court for Arbitration for Sport (CAS). Given we are now in the midst of an ongoing legal proceeding, and out of respect for that process, UEFA, the CFCB, and the overall aim of sporting integrity, there are limits to what we are able to share at this time.
'What we can say is this: we are—even at this late hour—fighting to do anything and everything we can to secure our players', supporters', and community's place in Europe. 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 precedent, only to have all of those efforts rebuffed.
'Nevertheless, we look forward to the opportunity to be heard at CAS and thank you in advance for your support.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RTÉ News
an hour ago
- RTÉ News
Lone Star agrees to sell Portugal's Novo Banco to France's BPCE for €6.4 billion
French banking group BPCE has agreed to buy US private equity fund Lone Star's 75% stake in Novo Banco in a deal that values Portugal's fourth-largest bank at €6.4 billion, following a wave of consolidation in European banking. Novo Banco was created in 2014 from the collapsed Banco Espirito Santo (BES) after a state bailout, with Lone Star buying its stake in 2017 for €1 billion. Nicolas Namias, the chief executive of France's second largest domestic bank which operates under the Banque Populaire and Caisse d'Epargne brands, said in a statement that the Portuguese acquisition would allow his group to become a retail banking player in Europe. The Portuguese state and a banking resolution fund financed by the country's banks own the remaining 25% stake in Novo Banco, and enjoy a tag-along clause that allows them to sell on the same terms as Lone Star. "I do think that this acquisition is fully in line with what the ECB is advocating for, which is European banking consolidation," Namias said in a call with journalists. Europe's banking sector has seen renewed consolidation activity, with domestic and cross-border deals back in focus. In Spain, BBVA announced a more than €14 billion hostile bid for rival Sabadell last year, aiming to gain scale and cut costs in its home market. The CEO of Italy's UniCredit, Andrea Orcel, last year made a move on Germany's Commerzbank and smaller Italian peer Banco, sparking angry reactions in both Berlin and Rome. BPCE already has a small consumer credit operation in Portugal and its subsidiary Natixis has a technology centre handling IT services and back office for the whole group. As of March, Novo Banco had €30 billion in deposits and €28.5 billion in net loans, equivalent to a 9% market share in Portugal. It has almost 300 bank branches and more than 4,200 employees.
The Irish Sun
2 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Brawl breaks out on stage before George Kambosos vs Richardson Hitchins over $50,000 fight bet
GEORGE KAMBOSOS and Richardson Hitchins almost sparked a mass brawl on stage after clashing over a $50,000 fight bet. Kambosos returns to New York - Advertisement 4 Richardson Hitchins challenged George Kambosos to a $50,000 bet Credit: Geoffrey Knott 4 It sparked a brawl on stage Credit: Geoffrey Knott 4 Hitchins trainer Lenny Wilson grabbed a chair Credit: Geoffrey Knott And the American champion brought $50,000 (£42,500) cash on stage with him at their press conference to challenge Kambosos to a wager. He said: 'As far as George Kambosos, a lot of people want to say that - you know when they fight me a lot of guys game plan to go forward, hit him in the shoulder, break him down. "That's every guy's f**cking game plan. I think that George Kambosos is at this level because obviously he's got boxing skills. That's what f***ed Teofimo up. "Teofimo came at him as if he was just a regular guy and you know he ran into his face. Advertisement READ MORE IN boxing "Saturday night I'll be right in front of him all night long and if he's confident in himself, they say I'm easy work. I know for sure I'm confident in myself, I've been saying it since the face off. "I want to bet 50,000. His dad said he got the bet, so hold up, he said bring the money. The money's here, hold up." After Hitchins produced the cash - Kambosos alleged it was "fake" money causing the two camps to clash on stage. And Kambosos' dad and trainer Jim is said to have attacked Hitchins' trainer Lenny Wilson in defence as security were forced to intervene. Advertisement Most read in Boxing CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS Kambosos, 31, has only lost to Unbeaten Hitchins, 27, meanwhile won the title against Liam Paro in December to spoil an all-Aussie title bout against Kambosos. Kambosos, the challenger again, said: 'As you know, I love that underdog role, but there are no maybes, I'm doing this. There's no fake stuff. Advertisement "I'm going to this home in a familiar place where I'm 2-0 already. This is the trifecta. Like Lenny said, the talk is finished and we don't need to sit and talk. "I'm coming here as the underdog and I'm coming here to win this fight. You have seen it before and I'm here to win this fight; whatever it takes there is no plan B. 'He's the one who is making statements and saying he's going to knock me out. "We have our plans and have worked extremely hard in training camp and who knows maybe I will learn from him and run the whole fight. Advertisement "You know I can box and fight and dictate the fight to do whatever it takes. I can get knocked down and get back up again to win a championship fight. "I've seen it all at the highest level and have been at the pinnacle and he isn't. When you fight the best and beat the best and lose to the best you're still here. "This warrior is still here back at his favourite home grounds to do the trifecta in a Matchroom show and I never lost in America or a Matchroom show.' 4 Hitchins defends his IBF title Credit: Geoffrey Knott Advertisement
The Irish Sun
2 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Premier League suffers huge drop in TV viewing figures on both Sky Sports and TNT Sports
THE Premier League suffered a drop in television viewing figures this season, with one key factor believed to be the reason. Sky Sports broadcast 128 games this term, with 52 on TNT Sports. 2 Sky Sports experienced a drop in viewing figures Credit: Getty 2 TNT Sports also suffered a reduction Credit: Getty The remaining TV fixtures were streamed on Amazon Prime Video in December. Sky experienced a 10 per cent drop in viewing figures during the 2024-25 campaign, while TNT suffered a 17 per cent reduction. The drop comes after two record-breaking seasons, where Sky claims that numbers tracked closely with the 2023-24 season, but there was a drop-off in the final six weeks of the campaign. READ MORE IN FOOTBALL That has been put down to the lack of jeopardy at both ends of the Premier League table. Meanwhile, That meant the only things left to play for on the final day of the season were the European spots. Most read in Sport Meanwhile, Liverpool's £100m Barcola bid / Gyokeres forces Man Utd move / Grealish City axe | Transfers Exposed And From next season, Sky Sports will broadcast at least 215 games live. TNT Sports will continue showing 52 matches, including the Saturday lunchtime slot.
