UEFA has confirmed that more football clubs could be barred from European competitions next season due to strict rules on multi-club ownership, following the controversial demotion of Crystal Palace from the Europa League to the Conference League.
Uefa Reinforces Deadline
UEFA issued a circular to clubs on Monday, stressing that 1 March is the absolute deadline for compliance with multi-club ownership regulations. No extensions will be granted beyond this date, reinforcing a hard-line approach after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) backed UEFA in Palace’s failed appeal.
UEFA stated that the deadline is “necessary to provide clarity and predictability to clubs ahead of next season and to enable them to prepare ahead of time.”
Why Crystal Palace Were Demoted
Palace were the most high-profile club affected last season after it was determined that former co-owner John Textor had decisive influence over both Crystal Palace and Lyon, both of which qualified for the Europa League.
- League of Ireland side Drogheda United and Slovak club FC DAC 1904 were also removed from European competition for failing to meet compliance requirements.
- CAS ruled there is no mechanism for clubs to become compliant after the 1 March assessment date.
Multi-Club Ownership and European Integrity
UEFA does not permit two clubs under the same ownership group to compete in the same European competition. If there is a conflict, the club finishing lower in their domestic league loses its European place.
The rule change came amid concerns about the growing prevalence of multi-club ownership threatening the integrity of UEFA competitions. The assessment date was brought forward from 1 June to 1 March to enforce compliance before the tournament draw.
Palace’s Appeal and CAS Decision
Crystal Palace argued that some clubs, like Nottingham Forest and Chelsea/Strasbourg, had received preferential treatment by being allowed to restructure ownership after the deadline.
- CAS rejected these claims, confirming that UEFA’s rules do not allow exceptions.
- UEFA now makes it clear that any club in a multi-club ownership structure must be compliant by 1 March or face removal from European tournaments.
Clubs at Risk Next Season
The new ruling could affect other high-profile clubs linked under common ownership, including:
- Manchester United
- Nice
UEFA’s renewed communication aims to close any loopholes and ensure fairness in European competitions moving forward.
Key Takeaways
- UEFA enforces hard-line multi-club ownership rules with 1 March deadline.
- Crystal Palace, Drogheda United, and DAC 1904 were removed last season.
- CAS ruled that UEFA cannot grant extensions or exceptions.
- Clubs like Manchester United and Nice could face future expulsion if non-compliant.
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