Latest news with #Marinakis
Irish Post
2 days ago
- Business
- Irish Post
Drogheda in talks with UEFA with European place in question over multi-club ownership rules
IRISH soccer side Drogheda United say they are in talks with UEFA with the organisation's multi-club ownership rules posing questions over the Drogs' place in Europe next season. The League of Ireland side qualified for the second qualifying round of the UEFA Conference League following their FAI Cup victory over Derry City last November. However, the Drogs' participation in Europe for the first time in 12 years could be at risk after Danish side Silkeborg also qualified for the competition yesterday and are due to enter at the same stage. Both Drogheda and Silkeborg — as well as English League Two side Walsall and African side Trivela FC Togo — are owned by Trivela Group. The organisation took control of Drogheda in February 2024 and acquired Silkeborg 10 months later. However, UEFA has strict rules around clubs with the same owners competing in the same European competition. 'Ongoing discussions' In a statement after Silkeborg qualified for Europe on Sunday with a 3-1 defeat of Randers in the Danish Superliga European play-off match, Drogheda said it had been 'working proactively' on the issue. "Drogheda United Football Club can confirm that it has been engaged in ongoing discussions with UEFA in recent months regarding a regulatory matter that has now arisen following Silkeborg IF's qualification for the UEFA Conference League qualifiers," it read. "As supporters will know, Silkeborg IF is also part of the Trivela Group ownership structure, which includes Drogheda United. "UEFA's regulations regarding multi-club ownership and participation in UEFA Club Competitions require careful consideration, and the club has been working proactively with the relevant authorities. "At this time, due to the confidential and ongoing nature of the process, Drogheda United is unable to provide further comment. "However, the club remains committed to transparency and will provide updates as soon as there are any significant developments to share. "We appreciate the continued support and understanding of our fans, partners, and wider community." Similar cases Premier League club Chelsea faced a similar situation last month when both they and French side Strasbourg — both owned by BlueCo — were on course to qualify for the Champions League. Ultimately, the London side qualified while Strasbourg finished 7th in Ligue 1, qualifying for the Conference League play-off round instead. Similarly, Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis diluted his control of the Premier League club in anticipation of qualifying for the Champions League by placing his shares in a blind trust. Olympiacos, who are also owned by Marinakis, qualified for the competition after winning the Greek Super League, while Forest ultimately finished in seventh, qualifying for the Conference League play-off round. Drogheda have had five previous European campaigns, the last in the 2013-14 season when they lost 2-0 on aggregate to Swedish side Malmo in the first qualifying round of the Europa League. The club's best performance in Europe was in the 2008-09 season, when they reached the second qualifying round of the Champions League, where they narrowly lost 4-3 on aggregate to Dynamo Kyiv. Silkeborg, who competed in the group stage of the Conference League in 2022-23, have qualified for Europe for the third time in four seasons. See More: Drogheda United, League Of Ireland, UEFA, UEFA Conference League
Daily Mirror
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Enzo Maresca one step from full vindication as Chelsea owners show united front
They celebrated the £100m goal in the away end, on the touchline and among the players. And, for once, a club owner running onto the pitch at the City Ground is unlikely to end in a charge from the Football Association. This was Chelsea's day after Levi Colwill's second half winner settled it and got the Blues back into the Champions League. Chelsea finished the season in fourth, could yet win a European trophy and Nottingham Forest will have to make do with the Europa Conference League. No wonder Chelsea co-owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali - putting on a united front - ran onto the pitch at the end as all of their investment and crazy spending is beginning to pay off. The away end, decked out in blue scarves, could enjoy a happy ending to a day of nerves when Chelsea got the job done and got themselves back onto European football's top stage. On Wednesday, Chelsea face Real Betis in the Europa Conference League final in Wroclaw and if they can lift that trophy then it will be full vindication for Enzo Maresca as manager. Chelsea flirted with a title challenge before Christmas but fell away and yet the rewards, cash and incentives on offer next season should speed up the rebuild. In contrast, Forest just could not find one more chapter in their remarkable story this season but this year must still go down as truly memorable for Nuno Espirito Santo and his players. Cruelly, it was Chris Wood - Forest's unlikely hero and top scorer - who missed a big late chance which would not have got them into the Champions League but would have got them a point to elevate them into the Europa League. Instead, Forest will have to make do with a European campaign and let's hope that is enough for owner Evangelos Marinakis who has made a habit of running onto the pitch to make his feelings plain to players, managers and the officials. The Forest faithful chanted abuse towards Sky co-commentator Gary Neville during the game after he was banned from covering the game for having the temerity to speak out against Marinakis. And you will not find much sympathy among the Forest fans because Marinakis has helped transform the City Ground with banners about European tours draped across the stands. This has been a season Forest will never forget even if a few weeks ago they were entrenched in the top five - and now miss out. There must be a sense of what might have been but they cannot lose sight of the progress. There was a certain irony that three years ago it was Colwill - on loan at Huddersfield at the time - who scored the own goal to put Forest into the Premier League via the Championship play-off final at Wembley. Now Colwill, an established starter at Chelsea and England international, got the goal to put the Blues into the promised land of the Champions League. Maybe with so much at stake, the nerves got in the way of the football. It was loud, raucous and rocking. It has been like that all season for Forest. But the other trait also remained - they can struggle for goals. Forest had pressure and possession but did not create. Wood put one chance over the bar and then Chelsea began to take charge in the second half. Forest failed to clear the danger, Pedro Neto put a ball across the face of the goal and there was Colwill to steer in just in front of the away fans. As news of other scores filtered through, the game felt a bit flat by the end - unless you were Chelsea of course. Wood put one over the bar deep into injury time but could not save the day. Join our new WhatsApp communityand receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Sky has slashed the price of its bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £192 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more. Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games next season, an increase of up to 100 more.
The 42
23-05-2025
- Sport
- The 42
Gary Neville refused entry to Nottingham Forest season finale against Chelsea
SKY SPORTS pundit Gary Neville has been refused entry to the City Ground by Nottingham Forest for their final Premier League game of the season on Sunday against Chelsea. Neville was scheduled to be part of Sky's commentary team as both sides bid to secure Champions League football next season, but Forest have declined to grant him media accreditation. The East Midlands club declined to comment when approached by the PA news agency. Former Manchester United defender Neville said on Instagram: 'I was contacted by Sky Sports earlier on in the week and told that I would be commentating at the City Ground on Sunday for the Nottingham Forest v Chelsea match. Advertisement 'I was informed yesterday by Sky Sports that Nottingham Forest would not give me an accreditation or access to the stadium as a co-commentator. I've had no choice but to withdraw from the coverage. 'I've dished out my fair share of criticism and praise in the last 14 years of doing this job and have never come close to this unprecedented action. 'Personally, I think it's disappointing that a great club like Nottingham Forest have been reduced to making such a decision. While they have every right to choose who they let into their own stadium, it's symptomatic of things that have happened over the last 12 months with the club. 'I wish the coaching staff, players and fans of the club all the best in their quest to achieve Champions League football.' Neville has been highly critical of Forest and owner Evangelos Marinakis this season. He described Marinakis walking onto the pitch and exchanging words with head coach Nuno Espirito Santo after the recent draw with Leicester as 'scandalous'. Neville urged Nuno to quit the club, and his social media post further enraged Marinakis, who had threatened Sky with legal action over comments made by the pundit earlier in the season. After Forest's 2-0 defeat at Everton last year, the club issued a statement on social media questioning the integrity of video assistant referee Stuart Atwell after claiming they had been denied three penalties. Neville's response to that, comparing Forest's actions to those of a 'mafia gang', prompted an apology from Sky after they had been contacted by Marinakis' lawyers.
RTÉ News
23-05-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Gary Neville 'banned' from City Ground for Nottingham Forest v Chelsea
Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville has been refused entry to the City Ground by Nottingham Forest for their final Premier League game of the season on Sunday against Chelsea. Neville was scheduled to be part of Sky's commentary team as both sides bid to secure Champions League football next season, but Forest have declined to grant him media accreditation. The east Midlands club declined to comment when approached for a response. Former Manchester United defender Neville said on Instagram: "I was contacted by Sky Sports earlier on in the week and told that I would be commentating at the City Ground on Sunday for the Nottingham Forest v Chelsea match. "I was informed yesterday by Sky Sports that Nottingham Forest would not give me an accreditation or access to the stadium as a co-commentator. I've had no choice but to withdraw from the coverage. "I've dished out my fair share of criticism and praise in the last 14 years of doing this job and have never come close to this unprecedented action. "Personally, I think it's disappointing that a great club like Nottingham Forest have been reduced to making such a decision. While they have every right to choose who they let into their own stadium, it's symptomatic of things that have happened over the last 12 months with the club. "I wish the coaching staff, players and fans of the club all the best in their quest to achieve Champions League football." Neville has been highly critical of Forest and owner Evangelos Marinakis this season. He described Marinakis walking on to the pitch and exchanging words with head coach Nuno Espirito Santo after the recent draw with Leicester as "scandalous". Neville urged Nuno to quit the club and his social media post further enraged Marinakis, who had threatened Sky with legal action over comments made by the pundit earlier in the season. After Forest's 2-0 defeat at Everton last year, the club issued a statement on social media questioning the integrity of video assistant referee Stuart Atwell after claiming they had been denied three penalties.
Straits Times
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
Forest stop Sky commentator Neville from covering final game
Gary Neville said he has withdrawn from coverage of the Premier League game between Nottingham Forest and Chelsea on the final day of the season after Forest refused to give him accreditation following his criticism of the club's owner. Neville had criticised Evangelos Marinakis when the Forest owner came on to the pitch and expressed his frustrations after a draw with Leicester City as he could not understand why the injured Taiwo Awoniyi was not substituted. Neville described the owner's remonstration as "scandalous", adding that Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo should "negotiate his exit" after it appeared that Marinakis had taken out his frustrations on the Portuguese manager. Forest later dismissed reports of the heated confrontation between Marinakis and Espirito Santo as fake news. Neville was told he would be commentating at the City Ground on Sunday when Forest face Chelsea in a match that could decide if they play in the Champions League next season. "I was informed yesterday by Sky Sports that Nottingham Forest would not give me an accreditation or access to the stadium as a co-commentator. I've had no choice but to withdraw from the coverage," Neville said in a statement on Friday. "I've dished out my fair share of criticism and praise in the last 14 years of doing this job and have never come close to this unprecedented action. "Personally, I think it's disappointing that a great club like Nottingham Forest have been reduced to making such a decision. "Whilst they have every right to choose who they let into their own stadium, it's symptomatic of things that have happened over the last 12 months with the club." Reuters has contacted Forest for comment. Seventh-placed Forest must win to stand a chance of qualifying for the Champions League while a draw or a loss would only be good enough to get into the Europa League or Conference League. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
