LOI In Europe 2025

[Nesta99]

The issue for me is that they have already allowed bendig the rules or using some techncality and accepting it. Why stop now unless there is a line drawn, which means the rules need changing or expanding to cut the messing.

[Martinho II]

Its a pity that Drogs more than likely wont make it. Its even more of a tragedy that no other loi clubs can take their place!

[EatYerGreens]

There is a whole section in the UEFA rules about this and they (UEFA) wrote to all clubs about this at least a year ago,
The fact that the clubs invlved didnt plan for it or more likely in Drogs and PAlaces case not think they would qualify for Europe is hardly a reason to bend the rules.
As Keano would put it ...."fail to prepare, prepare to fail" .
I still hope Drogs dont lose out i enjoy watching all the IRish clubs in Europe but if UEFA bend the rules here they may as well forget about the whole thing.
In the old days i dont htink it would have mattered much with straight knock outs but with the league tables now it would be possible to do each other a favour if drawn togeher

The abuse and anger over these stories, and particularly from Palace fans, is being directed solely at UEFA. When it should be at those who now own their club, as part of the ridiculous trend whereby companies collect football clubs from around Europe like they're Panini stickers. Talk about shooting the wrong target :poo:

[oriel]

Exactly EYG, same scenario in politics, example of huge queues at EU airports, and UK (mainly) travellers complaining and blaming airport, when in fact 52% of them voted for brexit = THE reason.

In this case, its not UEFA the cause, rather its indeed the owners of the clubs who should have been better prepared for (albeit) a most unlikely scenario, but it happened !

[2 Year Contract]

Drogs out of Europe it looks like. They’re taking it to CAS

[Another Bohemia]

Drogs out of Europe it looks like. They’re taking it to CAS

Its very "greatest league in the world" that no other team applied for a european licence. I'd wager that will change moving forward considering anyone could have gotten in by default as a result of this. How does this affect the leagues coefficient?

[2 Year Contract]

Its very "greatest league in the world" that no other team applied for a european licence. I'd wager that will change moving forward considering anyone could have gotten in by default as a result of this. How does this affect the leagues coefficient?

Apparently the results of the (now 3) clubs will still be divided by 4 for the league’s coefficient. Seems very unfair that it’s not going to be divided by 3, I don’t see why whatever country benefits from taking Drogheda’s spot doesn’t have their coefficient points divided by an extra club

[pineapple stu]

I don’t see why whatever country benefits from taking Drogheda’s spot doesn’t have their coefficient points divided by an extra club
Hm - that might happen yet, though UEFA could be saying that we had four teams, one of whom didn't win any matches. That's a bad result, on top of €250k minimum coming into the LoI.

Feel sorry for Drogheda fans obviously, especially as they're not (and really never were) European regulars by any stretch. But Christ the owners have dropped the ball here if this does come to pass.

Edit - on a similar note, Crystal Palace's majority owner is currently trying to sell his stake to get around the same issue (https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/cqj7n8dkjg4o), so they're taking it fairly seriously too. Why Drogheda's owners haven't done the same thing, I don't know. Maybe no-one to sell to?

[Kiki Balboa]

Hm - that might happen yet, though UEFA could be saying that we had four teams, one of whom didn't win any matches. That's a bad result, on top of €250k minimum coming into the LoI.

Feel sorry for Drogheda fans obviously, especially as they're not (and really never were) European regulars by any stretch. But Christ the owners have dropped the ball here if this does come to pass.

Edit - on a similar note, Crystal Palace's majority owner is currently trying to sell his stake to get around the same issue (https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/cqj7n8dkjg4o), so they're taking it fairly seriously too. Why Drogheda's owners haven't done the same thing, I don't know. Maybe no-one to sell to?

Pretty sure Palace were always safe because Textor only owned 30%.

Anything I read, Palace seemed very confident it was a non-issue.

[sbgawa]

So with an odd number of teams in the Conference league now ...im assuming Rovers get a bye into Round two as top seed??

To be honest id rather play the match, gutted for the Drogs supporters.
Cant see them winning at CASS , id say thats a face saving effort from the Board

Might help us in the LEague if its true i suppose

[Another Bohemia]

Pretty sure Palace were always safe because Textor only owned 30%.

Anything I read, Palace seemed very confident it was a non-issue.

Textor owns 43% (Well Eagle football group does) and its enough of an issue for them that he is trying to sell the entirety of his share w/ the owner of the NY Jets being the latest suitor. I think its because even though he is technically a minority owner he owns the largest stake in the club. The next biggest I can see is 10%.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/cqj7n8dkjg4o

On the coefficient aspect I hope its more akin to what Stu has said with Droghedas potential opponents essentially given a walkover rather than an expulsion and replacement with another countries team. That opens a whole lot of questions for UEFA around how they select Droghedas replacement and I cant imagine any association being happy if a team from a league with similar coefficient to them is given essentially free points.

[pineapple stu]

Pretty sure Palace were always safe because Textor only owned 30%.

Anything I read, Palace seemed very confident it was a non-issue.
That's not the feel I get off the BBC article? And don't think it ties in with selling his shares either? Textor's group owns 43% per here (https://www.nottinghampost.com/sport/football/football-news/nottingham-forest-crystal-palace-europa-10260354), which is still a minority stake, but UEFA rules are around a significant say in the running of the clubs and 43% probably falls under that remit.

That second article does mention that Palace are confident no rules have been broken, but not sure if their actions back that up.

[2 Year Contract]

So with an odd number of teams in the Conference league now ...im assuming Rovers get a bye into Round two as top seed??

To be honest id rather play the match, gutted for the Drogs supporters.
Cant see them winning at CASS , id say thats a face saving effort from the Board

Might help us in the LEague if its true i suppose

Yeah rovers would take the 2nd qualifying round place. Wouldn’t help rovers in the league though given the game that’s meant to be between the two 1st round ties has been brought forward to this Monday, meaning Rovers would just have an extended idle period before the Cup game at home to Wexford.

On that point, if they don’t get into Europe, Drogs (who play 6 league games in the next 4 weeks) would then only have 1 game between the 5th and 31st of July which is their FAI Cup game against Crumlin

[pineapple stu]

Presumably Drogheda have budgeted on being in Europe too, which would be quite a hole to fill

[sidewayspasser]

Presumably Drogheda have budgeted on being in Europe too, which would be quite a hole to fill
Ideally, it should be the owners' responsibility to fill that hole, as they created the problem in the first place. But when is the world ever ideal...

On the topic of replacement, as I understand it, Rovers would replace Drogheda in Q2. The Q1 spot which would then be vacated by Rovers should be taken by another Irish team if there were another one who applied for a license. In the absence of that, another team from Q1 would move to Q2 as there is an uneven number of teams in Q1 then. That should be the cup winner of the highest ranked country that has a cup winner in Q1 (Albania).

[Straightstory]

Barry Landy does a good job on all things Drogheda in his 'Love Is The Drog' Substack. He says:
'Teams that have been admitted to UEFA competitions in the past despite having been part of multi-club ownership groups and having to plead their case to UEFA’s Club Financial Control body include Manchester United, Manchester City, Nice, Girona, Red Bull Salzburg, Red Bull Leipizg, Aston Villa, Vitoria Guimaraes, AC Milan, Toulouse, Brighton and Hove Albion and Union Saint-Gilloise'.
Not sure how these have managed to dodge the bullet, and Drogheda haven't. It'll be big news if Palace get booted out.

[ger121]

Whatever about the fortunes of Drogheda. I can’t believe no other PD side applied for a European licence. Real amateur hour stuff.

[2 Year Contract]

Whatever about the fortunes of Drogheda. I can’t believe no other PD side applied for a European licence. Real amateur hour stuff.

Genuinely can’t get my head around that at all. There were tweets, posts on here and articles published in November highlighting the potential issue that could arise so the fact that it’s been as publicly known about as that absolutely shocks me that Derry or any other club for that matter didn’t apply for a licence. It’s something Pats have benefitted from twice in the last 14 years, sending in an application when Fingal and Waterford hadn’t got their ducks in a row.

The main idiots here are Derry's board given they would’ve been first in line for the spot. Galway would’ve been next and after that clubs are probably thinking ah sure Derry or Galway will apply and get it if Drogheda miss out etc, so the crime lessens the lower down the table you go but Jesus it’s a serious open goal miss from the clubs

[RealJohn91]

Barry Landy does a good job on all things Drogheda in his 'Love Is The Drog' Substack. He says:
'Teams that have been admitted to UEFA competitions in the past despite having been part of multi-club ownership groups and having to plead their case to UEFA’s Club Financial Control body include Manchester United, Manchester City, Nice, Girona, Red Bull Salzburg, Red Bull Leipizg, Aston Villa, Vitoria Guimaraes, AC Milan, Toulouse, Brighton and Hove Albion and Union Saint-Gilloise'.
Not sure how these have managed to dodge the bullet, and Drogheda haven't. It'll be big news if Palace get booted out.
They managed it because they followed the deadlines and rules. Drogheda didn't, simple stuff really.

[total hoofball]

Whatever about the fortunes of Drogheda. I can’t believe no other PD side applied for a European licence. Real amateur hour stuff.

Does anyone know with FAI's LOI licensing applications does that include UEFA licensing applications? For example in Wales/FAW both their domestic and UEFA licensing are co-ordinated in the same process, FAW had 10 clubs apply for a UEFA license for 2025-26 with 8 clubs accepted and 2 refused

https://faw.cymru/news/club-licensing-mens-tier-1-first-instance-body/

[culloty82]

Does anyone know with FAI's LOI licensing applications does that include UEFA licensing applications? For example in Wales/FAW both their domestic and UEFA licensing are co-ordinated in the same process, FAW had 10 clubs apply for a UEFA license for 2025-26 with 8 clubs accepted and 2 refused

https://faw.cymru/news/club-licensing-mens-tier-1-first-instance-body/

The FAI Licensing Manual mentions the UEFA licensing timetable begins immediately after the New Year, with applications needing to be submitted by the end of March, so every Premier club, at least, would have plenty time to get such ducks in a row:

https://support.faiconnect.ie/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/2024-Club-Licensing-Manual.pdf

[Nesta99]

In LoI anything can happen, club that have the resources at minimum shoud have put in for a licence as its not as if clubs havent been bumped before. If a club has recently been in Europe surely its a formality, update dates, housekeeping stuff. Our own licencing shoud be aligned as much as possible with UEFA anyway. Only reason I dont have even a tiny bit of irritation that even Dundalk didnt is that the pitch would hardly get a licence and its pretty busy for a skeleton staff already but even if hammered its a bit of a ranking point and a wedge of cash.

[pineapple stu]

. If a club has recently been in Europe surely its a formality, update dates, housekeeping stuff. Our own licencing shoud be aligned as much as possible with UEFA anyway.
Was thinking there can't be much difference between a Premier licence and a UEFA one, especially for a side like Derry who were in Europe last year

[Mr_Parker]

The FAI Licensing Manual mentions the UEFA licensing timetable begins immediately after the New Year, with applications needing to be submitted by the end of March, so every Premier club, at least, would have plenty time to get such ducks in a row:

https://support.faiconnect.ie/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/2024-Club-Licensing-Manual.pdf

The process actually needs to begin well ahead of January. The January date is by when mainly non-commercial info needs to be submitted (I suspect much of that is covered by your Premier Licence work done that proceeds UEFA deadlines. The March date is the by when financials are submitted and the application goes forward.

The vast majority of Irish League Premiership clubs apply for and get a UEFA Licence each year, regardless of their chances of qualifying. It makes good business sense to do so as it is a good measure. It is also easier to maintain the standard it sets, rather than having to start from a lower base. That's why I am shocked how few LOI clubs seem to follow the UEFA process through. There really isn't that big a jump to achieve.

[BigEars]

They managed it because they followed the deadlines and rules. Drogheda didn't, simple stuff really.

Well the difference from most is Silkeborg only qualified just over a week ago.
If Uefa allow teams to qualify so late, they should probably allow amendments to applications after that stage (even if most things need to be in place).

No club would want to put their ownership into a blind trust just in case they qualify for Europe and then they don't.
Of course this blind trust thing is just a nonsense way for City Group, Ineos, Red Bull etc and others to own multiple football clubs playing in UEFA competitions and not be in breach of the rules.

If Uefa really wanted to stop multi club ownerships, they'd prevent any of these loopholes and specify the club from the lower association is the one that qualifies for Europe. Soon enough most multi club ownerships would be terminated.

[EalingGreen]

Barry Landy does a good job on all things Drogheda in his 'Love Is The Drog' Substack. He says:
'Teams that have been admitted to UEFA competitions in the past despite having been part of multi-club ownership groups and having to plead their case to UEFA’s Club Financial Control body include Manchester United, Manchester City, Nice, Girona, Red Bull Salzburg, Red Bull Leipizg, Aston Villa, Vitoria Guimaraes, AC Milan, Toulouse, Brighton and Hove Albion and Union Saint-Gilloise'.
Not sure how these have managed to dodge the bullet, and Drogheda haven't.
Dunno about the others, but re BHA and USG, when both qualified for the Europa League in 2023/24, BHA owner Tony Bloom sold his majority shareholding in USG to allow both teams to compete in that season's competition:
https://rusg.brussels/en/news/statement-president-and-owner-alex-muzio-0


It'll be big news if Palace get booted out.Aiui, Palace were hoping they'd be ok since Textor didn't own a majority stake, just 47%. However UEFA were still concerned because the other shareholders only owned 10% each, meaning Textor could have effective control. Consequently, Textor is desperately trying to sell his shares.

[EalingGreen]

Only reason I dont have even a tiny bit of irritation that even Dundalk didnt is that the pitch would hardly get a licence and its pretty busy for a skeleton staff already but even if hammered its a bit of a ranking point and a wedge of cash.Larne's pitch wasn't up to UEFA standard either last season, but they still applied for, and gained, a European Licence, on the basis that they'd play their home games at Windsor.

[EalingGreen]

They managed it because they followed the deadlines and rules. Drogheda didn't, simple stuff really.


Well the difference from most is Silkeborg only qualified just over a week ago.
If Uefa allow teams to qualify so late, they should probably allow amendments to applications after that stage (even if most things need to be in place).
Except that with a summer league, Drogs/LOI teams all qualify v.early, no?

[BigEars]

Except that with a summer league, Drogs/LOI teams all qualify v.early, no?


Well yes they do, however most countries have everything wrapped up a month before Denmark.
Having 5+ weeks vs 1 to engage with UEFA and make changes if necessary is a huge difference.

It's a lot easier to make an argument to Uefa (or CAS if necessary) if you've already divested shares/created a blind trust, like other clubs have done, even if it's post March deadline, than asking them if they'll just let you in or do you need to change the business structure.
At that stage it's a lot easier for Uefa to just say 'sorry, too late".

[Kiki Balboa]

A bit mad that the LOI as whole will be hurt by this through losing UEFA co-efficient, and maybe that Europa League spot. If Rovers are replacing Drogheda (ie. they are being replaced not just straight eliminated), I cant see how the ruling is LOI has 4 teams in the competitions, not 3.

I would feel a bit bitter about that. I am sure there is some rule somewhere that states it - but functionally, its stupid to me.

Also, does not reflect well on the competency of Chairperson and Sinn Fein TD Joanna Byrne, who, along with the rest of the board, missed this and seemed to be shocked by the news. Thats a big hole in their budget now. Poster above is right, Irish teams are some of the first to qualify for European, so plenty of time for this to have been flagged.

Must be some worries that those investors would just drop Drogheda now.

Also, weird for me that Drogheda are claiming to be the 'little guy', when they are part (and benefiting) of the very problem many people hate with modern football of multi-club ownership.

Doesnt reflect well on every other LOI Premier team too that didnt apply for UEFA licence when they should have been a bit clued in to the problems that Drogheda might have had.

Overall, this years embarrassing episode for the league.

[Nesta99]

Ive heard it said that there could be domestic sanctions if a UEFA nominated team fall foul in their applicaton (not failing the application but getting a licence and then not using it). Supposedly a clause added from when Waterford tried to enter competition knowing they werent ineligible but were going to get someone to manipulate the rules at UEFA. If true really harsh, I see the logic but not the same situation at all.

[2 Year Contract]

Well yes they do, however most countries have everything wrapped up a month before Denmark.
Having 5+ weeks vs 1 to engage with UEFA and make changes if necessary is a huge difference.

It's a lot easier to make an argument to Uefa (or CAS if necessary) if you've already divested shares/created a blind trust, like other clubs have done, even if it's post March deadline, than asking them if they'll just let you in or do you need to change the business structure.
At that stage it's a lot easier for Uefa to just say 'sorry, too late".

I don’t buy the whole having 1 week to engage with UEFA thing. Trivela bought Silkeborg in November, who at that point had played in Europe 2 of the last 3 seasons and won the Danish Cup in 2024. The fact that they went on to qualify for Europe for the 3rd time in 4 seasons shouldn’t have come as some big surprise to them. They knew what they were getting into when buying the club and Drogheda had already earned their European spot before they bought Silkeborg

[Nesta99]

A bit mad that the LOI as whole will be hurt by this through losing UEFA co-efficient, and maybe that Europa League spot. If Rovers are replacing Drogheda (ie. they are being replaced not just straight eliminated), I cant see how the ruling is LOI has 4 teams in the competitions, not 3.

I would feel a bit bitter about that. I am sure there is some rule somewhere that states it - but functionally, its stupid to me.

Also, does not reflect well on the competency of Chairperson and Sinn Fein TD Joanna Byrne, who, along with the rest of the board, missed this and seemed to be shocked by the news. Thats a big hole in their budget now. Poster above is right, Irish teams are some of the first to qualify for European, so plenty of time for this to have been flagged.

Must be some worries that those investors would just drop Drogheda now.

Also, weird for me that Drogheda are claiming to be the 'little guy', when they are part (and benefiting) of the very problem many people hate with modern football of multi-club ownership.

Doesnt reflect well on every other LOI Premier team too that didnt apply for UEFA licence when they should have been a bit clued in to the problems that Drogheda might have had.

Overall, this years embarrassing episode for the league.

Good point. I was also thinking it was pushing around a small club/league when EPL sized clubs had been sorted in the past but if part of a multiclub system then its the size of owners rather than the individual club that probably should be the marker.

I dont think Tirvela would write off what they have already invested based on this setback. Its disappointing but plans for development and 1st team football were budgeted for prior to winning the cup. They are ahead of expectations so the money would have been nice rather than a deal breaker. Maybe budgets were increased after the cup win but I dont think Drogheda went mad with signings to leave a huge hole in finances.

[Kiki Balboa]

Ive heard it said that there could be domestic sanctions if a UEFA nominated team fall foul in their applicaton (not failing the application but getting a licence and then not using it). Supposedly a clause added from when Waterford tried to enter competition knowing they werent eligible but were going to get someone to manipulate the rules at UEFA. If true really harsh, I see the logic but not the same situation at all.

Makes it worse then that UEFA is essentially punishing the league for no-one else applying.

That would be something worth taking to CAS for me.

[holidaysong]

Somebody on Bert's site quoted the following from the regulations regarding the coefficient still being divided by 4 rather than 3.

"If a club refused to enter a UEFA competition for which it qualified or was excluded from or not admitted to the competition and not replaced by another club from the same association, the association's coefficient is calculated by dividing the total number of points obtained by its clubs by the number of clubs the association was entitled to enter according to the access list."

[pineapple stu]

Makes it worse then that UEFA is essentially punishing the league for no-one else applying.
In a way, we absolutely deserve that punishment based on earlier posts on how other leagues operate.

[2 Year Contract]

Trivela have paid a 6 figure sum in legal fees fighting UEFA’s decision

https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/league-of-ireland/drogheda-owners-spending-six-figure-sum-to-fund-legal-challenge-of-decision-to-kick-them-out-of-europe/a2003908567.html (https://m.independent.ie/sport/soccer/league-of-ireland/drogheda-owners-spending-six-figure-sum-to-fund-legal-challenge-of-decision-to-kick-them-out-of-europe/a2003908567.html)

[oriel]

Can see their point in contesting and paying for this, do nothing, lose €525 revenue + gate, spend 20-50k (no idea on costs) chance of getting 475k prize money + gate etc (if paying 50 in legals). They might as well. Then again if they lose its obv the 50k or so lost, plus the potential 525k revenue gone. I just don't think they have the pull to carry this out, I could be wrong.

Not sure what most think their chances are with CAS, deadline date seemed fairly clear, as was the shares thing, the small club thing won't do them any favours either, would imagine if a bigger club from a bigger league, maybe chance would be higher, but again who knows.

[Mr_Parker]

Larne's pitch wasn't up to UEFA standard either last season, but they still applied for, and gained, a European Licence, on the basis that they'd play their home games at Windsor.

Not quite correct. Larne used Solitude and then had to move to Windsor when they got to the League stage. This year they have nominated Ballymena for there qualifying games. Likewise Dungannon who are in Europe this year, will use Solitude.

It is common practice for clubs who do not have a ground that meets UEFA standards to nominate another suitable venue. Happens all over Europe.

[EatYerGreens]

Makes it worse then that UEFA is essentially punishing the league for no-one else applying.

That would be something worth taking to CAS for me.

That would NOT be UEFA punishing anyone though. You've got such a wrong-headed way of looking at things here.

If no other Irish clubs applied for a UEFA license, who's fault would that be ? Irish clubs themselves? The FAI (who should really be pushing for it to be a standard move) Or UEFA?

What happend to the old-fashioned notion of taking responsibility for one's own actions (or lack of), rather than always looking for someone else to blame instead?

[LTFC]

Can see their point in contesting and paying for this, do nothing, lose €525 revenue + gate, spend 20-50k (no idea on costs) chance of getting 475k prize money + gate etc (if paying 50 in legals). They might as well. Then again if they lose its obv the 50k or so lost, plus the potential 525k revenue gone. I just don't think they have the pull to carry this out, I could be wrong.

Not sure what most think their chances are with CAS, deadline date seemed fairly clear, as was the shares thing, the small club thing won't do them any favours either, would imagine if a bigger club from a bigger league, maybe chance would be higher, but again who knows.

On the surface of course they should take the legal action. But you would have to have a concern that this could also be storing up trouble for Drogs. We have seen entities leave clubs in a far worse place than they found them with locals scrambling around to keep the ship afloat afterwards. Can Drogs afford 6 figure legal bills? I very much doubt it.

[Nesta99]

CAS is arbitration so there is some room to manouver. While the rules are cut and dry there is precedence of bending of the rules. If Drogs can prove that they engaged in full to also bend the rules in the same way, that notification was very late and unreasonable, CAS can rule that dispensation should be offered. Its not binding though, but it does open the door for seeking compensation for loss of earnings as UEFA rules dont allow for executive decisions in unusual cases - lower bar to prove UEFA caused losses. We dont really know how long Drogs were trying to come with a solution and offered to do what others were allowed but refused or how late UEFA gave notice of an issue when Silkeborg qualified. General notice in the past may not cut it. CAS could just go rules are rules and must be enforced but again that opens the way for litigation due to the rules being fudged at other times. Will be interesting CAS rulings are generally very insightful and have angles ye wouldnt think of, along with exposing chancer behaviour of appelants. Hearing on Monday.

[Nesta99]

On the surface of course they should take the legal action. But you would have to have a concern that this could also be storing up trouble for Drogs. We have seen entities leave clubs in a far worse place than they found them with locals scrambling around to keep the ship afloat afterwards. Can Drogs afford 6 figure legal bills? I very much doubt it.

It wont happen. These owners also have to show to other clubs they own along with potential future purchases that they wont leave unless they themselves are in a financial bind. P6 were asked to leave Dundalk and they did, Shels owners didnt leave them in trouble though I will say, again, that they are on course for trouble, needing cutting back, if without European football 2026 and no money owner safety net. Waterford ownership is at risk while owners are being hit for law suit after law suit, not the company that now owns them but if their owner is in a bind financially they could be left high and dry. Arkaga ran out of money and legged it. Trivela are not going to the wall over Drogheda expenditure.

[2 Year Contract]

Could you imagine the absolute ****storm if Drogheda are successful in their case with CAS on Monday and then draw Silkeborg in the draw on Wednesday. Silkeborg are seeded and Drogs unseeded for round 2 so stranger things have happened, even if it would be a first in European football as far as I know. I half want it to happen now just for the pure entertainment value :D

[BigEars]

Could you imagine the absolute ****storm if Drogheda are successful in their case with CAS on Monday and then draw Silkeborg in the draw on Wednesday. Silkeborg are seeded and Drogs unseeded for round 2 so stranger things have happened, even if it would be a first in European football as far as I know. I half want it to happen now just for the pure entertainment value :D

RB Leipzig have played RB Salzburg in the Europa League before. There may be other instances of this, happening, although I'm not aware of them.

[oriel]

On the surface of course they should take the legal action. But you would have to have a concern that this could also be storing up trouble for Drogs. We have seen entities leave clubs in a far worse place than they found them with locals scrambling around to keep the ship afloat afterwards. Can Drogs afford 6 figure legal bills? I very much doubt it.

I think its their owners who are footing the legal bill, and its 5 figs, no idea what that is, would imagine has to be 50k or so, esp as legal team would only have been assembled since wed or thurs, and will have to prep over w/e - monday hearing.

[oriel]

It wont happen. These owners also have to show to other clubs they own along with potential future purchases that they wont leave unless they themselves are in a financial bind. P6 were asked to leave Dundalk and they did, Shels owners didnt leave them in trouble though I will say, again, that they are on course for trouble, needing cutting back, if without European football 2026 and no money owner safety net. Waterford ownership is at risk while owners are being hit for law suit after law suit, not the company that now owns them but if their owner is in a bind financially they could be left high and dry. Arkaga ran out of money and legged it. Trivela are not going to the wall over Drogheda expenditure.

Shels is an interesting one, they lost 1.5M last year, and if they don't make europe for 2026, that's a huge hole to fill.

Drogs will be down 0.5m if case not successful.

Even Rovers need a group stage almost every year or at least every 2 years to keep their high levels on track.

Its simply all about euro monies if any LOI club wants to be successful and have a healthy budget to compete.

[EatYerGreens]

CAS is arbitration so there is some room to manouver. While the rules are cut and dry there is precedence of bending of the rules. If Drogs can prove that they engaged in full to also bend the rules in the same way, that notification was very late and unreasonable, CAS can rule that dispensation should be offered. Its not binding though, but it does open the door for seeking compensation for loss of earnings as UEFA rules dont allow for executive decisions in unusual cases - lower bar to prove UEFA caused losses. We dont really know how long Drogs were trying to come with a solution and offered to do what others were allowed but refused or how late UEFA gave notice of an issue when Silkeborg qualified. General notice in the past may not cut it. CAS could just go rules are rules and must be enforced but again that opens the way for litigation due to the rules being fudged at other times. Will be interesting CAS rulings are generally very insightful and have angles ye wouldnt think of, along with exposing chancer behaviour of appelants. Hearing on Monday.

You don't seem to understand the UEFA process ?

The rules were not fudged previously. What happened was that the clubs concerned altered ownership structure/balance according to the rules to ensure they didnt fall foul of the rules. Drogheda's owners bave known for 7 months that they were in Europe this Summer. Yet they didn't do anything to mitigate the risk of falling foul of the multi-ownership rules until it was too late. Like seriously - how can a company that exists to pursue the ownership of multiple football clubs get itself into a posiiton whereby it needlessly falls foul of the rules on multi-ownership?! It's amateur hour stuff.

[placid casual]

Shels is an interesting one, they lost 1.5M last year, and if they don't make europe for 2026, that's a huge hole to fill.

Drogs will be down 0.5m if case not successful.

Even Rovers need a group stage almost every year or at least every 2 years to keep their high levels on track.

Its simply all about euro monies if any LOI club wants to be successful and have a healthy budget to compete.

Agree that it's a calculated gamble with LOI teams budgeting for European "success" to justify their outlay in player budget for the season.
Rovers getting past the group stages of conference league last season has kept a wolf from the door.
That's why the league winners and now FAI Cup winners is so sought after for LOI clubs with the parachute of at least 2 or more games in Europe.
Id always stress that , imo, LOI teams are now more than ever capable of holding their own in Europe especially the Conference league.
Uefa get plenty of flack for their general commercial *******isation of football but the Conference League is an absolute Christmas present for those of us who follow teams from the supposed weaker leagues.

[oriel]

For Conf League, this was meant to be to support the smaller leagues, makes a mockery of it, likes of Chelsea winning it.

IMO this is a euro competition that leagues ranked 1-10 should not be permitted to take part in, and especially ranked 1-4, it should be a competition that allows clubs from countries who have never ever had a finalist to have a real chance of making one, something like the English league trophy, or whatever it is, confinded for L1 and L2 clubs, Sunderland got there a few times in tier 3 and sold 50k tickets.

Its great of course smaller leagues at the start, win their league, then avoid defeat first euro game, you are almost certain of a group stage, just deflates the ambition when likes of Eng, Spanish clubs etc all parachute in.

Timing is another thing, if Conf League was around in late 10's, Dundalk would have made group stages in 15 + 17, poss 18 also, but that route wasn't available then. Still good for Irish clubs now to have that chance, but its just same old same old making last 16 / QF etc.