Europe — is it worth it?
2 Comments
More teams could be thrown out of European competitions next season after Uefa informed clubs it would continue its hard-line position on multi-club ownership.
We all want honours for our club... but the old saying, "Be careful what you wish for" rings true
It follows Crystal Palace's controversial demotion from the Europa League to the Conference League this season. Uefa issued a circular on Monday to underline that 1 March is the strict deadline for compliance. It insisted there would be no extension to get around the regulations after this date.
There had been speculation that the rules could be relaxed. But emboldened by the Court of Arbitration for Sport's (CAS) detailed ruling, external on Palace's failed appeal, Uefa has instead reiterated that there will be no special dispensation.
Uefa are concerned about the integrity of their competitions. Uefa does not permit two clubs within an ownership group to play in the same European competition. The club which finished lower in their domestic league must lose their place if there is a conflict.
Before last season, this appeared to be a hollow threat as no team had ever been impacted. But concerned that the spread of multi-club ownership was presenting a threat to the integrity of European competition, Uefa's Club Financial Control Body changed the rules.
It brought forward the assessment date from 1 June to 1 March. As a result, three clubs were either demoted or removed in the summer. Crystal Palace were the highest-profile casualty.
It was ruled that former co-owner, John Textor, had decisive influence in both the Eagles and Ligue 1 club Lyon, who had also qualified for the Europa League.
League of Ireland side Drogheda United and Slovak club FC DAC 1904 lost their places in the Conference League. All three clubs failed in appeals to CAS, which last week published its full decision in Palace\'s case.
Its judgement backed Uefa's assertion that there was no mechanism for clubs to become compliant after the deadline. On that basis, Uefa has now reaffirmed that the 1 March assessment date "is the deadline by which clubs must comply with the multi-club ownership criteria" and that the CAS ruling was binding for "a strict deadline for compliance".
Uefa added it was "deemed necessary to provide clarity and predictability to clubs ahead of next season and to enable them to prepare ahead of time".
Why are they doing this? Surely more cash in football benefits all, does it not? The law of averages means that sometimes two teams under the same owner will play each other in Europe... is that the only reason for this rule?
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2 Posted 12/01/2026 at 17:44:28
Let's carry on getting knocked out early in domestic cups and finish 12th.
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1 Posted 12/01/2026 at 17:12:19
After all, this is Everton. The fucking red shite pub quiz compilers would be wetting themselves.