UEFA Ruling Puts More Clubs at Risk of European Expulsion

European football governing body, UEFA, has reaffirmed its strict stance against multi-club ownership, warning that more teams could face exclusion from continental competitions next season.

The decision follows Crystal Palace’s recent demotion from the Europa League to the Conference League, a move that sparked considerable controversy. UEFA issued a circular on Monday, making it clear that March 1st remains the unshakeable deadline for clubs to demonstrate compliance with the regulations.

According to UEFA, no extensions will be granted. The rules stipulate that two clubs under the same ownership cannot participate in the same European competition, with the team finishing lower in their domestic league being penalized.

While the rule initially appeared symbolic, the Club Financial Control Body brought forward the assessment date to March 1st last year, resulting in the disqualification of three clubs. Palace, Drogheda United (League of Ireland), and FC DAC 1904 (Slovakia) were all affected.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) last week upheld UEFA’s decision in Palace’s appeal, stating that there was no provision within the regulations to allow for compliance after the deadline. “The CAS ruling was binding and reinforces the importance of adhering to the established timelines,” a UEFA spokesperson stated.

Palace had argued that other clubs, such as Nottingham Forest and Chelsea, were given leeway to restructure their ownership to meet the criteria. Forest’s owner, Evangelis Marinakis, reduced his control, while Chelsea’s BlueCo issued new shares in Strasbourg as a precautionary measure.

However, CAS dismissed these claims, asserting that UEFA’s regulations do not permit such preferential treatment. The situation wasn’t directly tested as these clubs didn’t ultimately qualify in a way that triggered the rule.

This latest communication from UEFA is crucial as it effectively closes any potential loopholes. Clubs with multi-club ownership structures aspiring to European football must ensure full compliance by March 1st, or risk similar sanctions next summer.

The implications of this hardline approach could be significant, potentially impacting clubs like Manchester United and Nice, who currently share a common ownership structure. UEFA’s commitment to the integrity of its competitions is clearly unwavering.

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