LOI In Europe 2025

[Acornvilla]

I do think whatever top 2 leagues in the co eff table who get the extra CL spot every season should lose their ECL entrants. Not sure about banning the entire top 10 leagues, but definitely having no PL entrant every year would be better for everyone else.

[pineapple stu]

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

but its just same old same old making last 16 / QF etc.
I don't agree with this. It can support the smaller leagues and still let them play Chelsea. I'm sure that was an experience for Rovers

Real Betis hadn't ever gotten past a Euro quarter final before so it can hardly be the same old names in the last 16. Slovenia, Poland (twice), Austria and Sweden were all represented in the quarters. Greece, Cyprus, Switzerland, Bosnia and Norway were in the last 16 (and Rovers were a penalty shoot-out away)

That's not same old same old

[oriel]

It is when it gets to the biz end, how many smaller leagues have made the semi's, and no chance ever making a final.

Absolutely no need for leagues 1-10 to be involved in this competition, plus would likes of Chelsea honestly see Conf League win as a massive trophy, hardly an open bus London tour stuff.

[pineapple stu]

Well you're changing horse now - you were talking about the last 16 being "same old same old" and now it's the semis. I don't think that's great for your argument tbh.

But take the semis as the (new) point of concern - you've still got FC Basel, Olympiakos (who won the tournament outright - the first Greek side ever to win a European competition), Club Brugge and Djurgardens who've made the semis. Are they same old same old? None from a top-ten ranked country. And then from the top-ten ranked countries, you've had Leicester, Real Betis, Aston Villa, West Ham and AZ Alkmaar make the semis - again, none of those are same old same old.

If you take out the top ten countries, you demean the competition for everyone else. I think the current format - where the top 12 only have one team, and it increases from there - is good.

[BigEars]

It is when it gets to the biz end, how many smaller leagues have made the semi's, and no chance ever making a final.

Absolutely no need for leagues 1-10 to be involved in this competition, plus would likes of Chelsea honestly see Conf League win as a massive trophy, hardly an open bus London tour stuff.

What you perhaps haven't considered, is if you do that, you create the UEFA equivalent of the Tommy Murphy Cup........ nobody gives a ****.

Also when you're talking about countries to disclose, I could have maybe understood the top 4-5 due to their dominance in European competitions.
However the Czech league is ranked 10th. Are you really desperate to prevent Czech sides from competing in the Conference League ?

[sbgawa]

I loved having the opportunity to play Chelsea. Plus if you take the top teams out of the conf league good luck getting a good sponsor or tv companies interested and bang goes the prize money

[Nesta99]

Radical proposal! Lets have a champions competition for champions, cup winners competition, and a competition for the rest with parachute games for those that are knocked out of he others. Maybe have a pre European tournament called something like intertoto where clubs that progress can get access to the main best of the rest. Throw in a competition for lower ranked leagues that earn additional places for higher comps following season and also can be parachuted in to when out of all other competitions, paid for by national wealth funds to buy world cup hosting and for clubs to get entry to the European system like the Israelis. Exclude some multi club clubs that are not liked for some reason, just for the laugh like, and alls sorted.

[oriel]

List of winners since ECL came in.

Roma
West Ham
Olympiacos
Chelsea

Greek League is ranked 12th, Eng and Italy ranked 1 and 2, and you can be quite sure this competition will be dominated by top 4 leagues going forward, mickey mouse stuff, they should be in CL and EL only.

[Martinho II]

Seen on another website that Athlone Town have applied for a European Licence to take the place of Drogheda. I dont know how reputable the website is but has anyone else heard this?

[pineapple stu]

List of winners since ECL came in.

Roma
West Ham
Olympiacos
Chelsea

Greek League is ranked 12th, Eng and Italy ranked 1 and 2, and you can be quite sure this competition will be dominated by top 4 leagues going forward, mickey mouse stuff, they should be in CL and EL only.
So you started off complaining that the last 16 was "same old same old" - then that became the semi-finalists - then it became the winners...

It's very hard to take your complaint seriously when you redefine it so often. And you still ignore that one of the four winners comes from a country that had never won a European club title before - the literal definition of something that's not same old same old.

[Martinho II]

This is the website that I saw this article:
https://leagueofirelandtalk.wordpress.com/2025/06/12/breaking-drogheda-united-face-expulsion-from-uefa-conference-league/

[holidaysong]

Seen on another website that Athlone Town have applied for a European Licence to take the place of Drogheda. I dont know how reputable the website is but has anyone else heard this?

According to UEFA rules, they're not eligible, as they're neither a cup winner nor in the top division.

https://documents.uefa.com/r/Regulations-of-the-UEFA-Conference-League-2025/26/Article-3-Entries-for-the-competition-Online

[oriel]

So you started off complaining that the last 16 was "same old same old" - then that became the semi-finalists - then it became the winners...

It's very hard to take your complaint seriously when you redefine it so often. And you still ignore that one of the four winners comes from a country that had never won a European club title before.

Was wrong on this initially, point was meant to be on winners from all the top leagues, 1 was an exception with Greece, but this competition will still be dominated by winning teams from top 4 or 5 leagues in years to come, already 3 of the 4 winners to date are from 1 and 2 ranked !

Still think leagues from ranked 1-10 have no business being involved in this, and it would be a better competition for leagues who have never made a final (or rarely) to have a realistic (and maybe regular) chance of winning a euro trophy.

In summary, Chelsea hardly did an open top bus tour for winning this years ECL (if they did, its sad), however it would be a huge achievement for any league ranked outside the top 10.

You will no doubt disagree and that's fine, its just a view I have, nothing else.

[Nesta99]

According to UEFA rules, they're not eligible, as they're neither a cup winner nor in the top division.

https://documents.uefa.com/r/Regulations-of-the-UEFA-Conference-League-2025/26/Article-3-Entries-for-the-competition-Online

Is the womans qualidication relevant for Europeab licence, Thought at one time the domestic association could nominate a side like if a playoff system is used to get a Euro slot

[pineapple stu]

Still think leagues from ranked 1-10 have no business being involved in this, and it would be a better competition for leagues who have never made a final (or rarely) to have a realistic (and maybe regular) chance of winning a euro trophy.

You will no doubt disagree and that's fine, its just a view I have, nothing else.
I will disagree though - as BigEars and sbgawa have said, you'll create a tournament nobody cares about if you take out the top ten countries. And that'll hurt the LoI involvement, not benefit it.

[oriel]

Fair enough, can see both sides of the argument, still think its too 'top heavy' with highest ranked leagues, but it is good to have a 3rd competition, since the long gone ECWC departed the scene.

[Mr_Parker]

According to UEFA rules, they're not eligible, as they're neither a cup winner nor in the top division.

https://documents.uefa.com/r/Regulations-of-the-UEFA-Conference-League-2025/26/Article-3-Entries-for-the-competition-Online

"Subject to*Paragraph 4.05, a club that is not admitted to the competition is replaced by the next-best-placed club in the top domestic championship of the same association, provided the new club fulfils the admission criteria and the status of the competition allows such a replacement, safeguarding the sporting integrity of the competition. In such case, the access of the relevant association is adjusted accordingly."

[EalingGreen]

What you perhaps haven't considered, is if you do that, you create the UEFA equivalent of the Tommy Murphy Cup........ nobody gives a ****.
The argument for excluding Premier Lge and La Liga clubs from the Conf is sound in principle, but you're absolutely correct, Big Ears.

For in practice, the Conf would get zero interest/coverage without a sprinkling of big names.

[EalingGreen]

Radical proposal! Lets have a champions competition for champions, cup winners competition, and a competition for the rest with parachute games for those that are knocked out of he others. Maybe have a pre European tournament called something like intertoto where clubs that progress can get access to the main best of the rest. Throw in a competition for lower ranked leagues that earn additional places for higher comps following season and also can be parachuted in to when out of all other competitions, paid for by national wealth funds to buy world cup hosting and for clubs to get entry to the European system like the Israelis. Exclude some multi club clubs that are not liked for some reason, just for the laugh like, and alls sorted.Sorry, but I've seen all the 'Back To The Future" films - the first one was great and the second ok, but the third absolutely stank the place out.

There is no call for a fourth, such as you suggest! :)

[ger121]

I see Dan tweeting Drogheda’s appeal has been rejected

[2 Year Contract]

I see Dan tweeting Drogheda’s appeal has been rejected

The additional over 100k spent on legal fees now doesn’t look the may west when added to the 525k they’ve missed out on

[oriel]

it has been rejected, that's confirmed now, they also spent '6 figures' on the appeal, so thats 100k min lost now along with the 525k they wont get.

Sorry for some of the Drogs fans I know, but as a whole they should be asking serious questions to their owners, Barry Landy local journalist there called this potential tricky situation out 3 or 4 months ago. The owners obv gambled on the Danish side not making euro (remember Drogs had effectively qualified Nov 2024), but they made it last day or latter end of their season, and as higher ranked took the spot. They had months to prepare for this eventuality and seemingly did nothing.

All the blame on this should not be directed towards UEFA / CAS, it is firmly on the doorstep of Trivela Group.

[ger121]

I’m more ****ed off we didn’t apply for a licence. Something for the next AGM no doubt.

[2 Year Contract]

Aside from the obvious fact that the league will now only have 3 representatives etc, rovers starting in the second round is a shame as they’d have likely picked up 2 wins in the first round which would’ve been handy for the league’s coefficient

[sidewayspasser]

It's a collective failure of all PD clubs who didn't bother applying. I guess some will learn and put an application in next season, just in case.

[pineapple stu]

All the blame on this should not be directed towards UEFA / CAS, it is firmly on the doorstep of Trivela Group.
Definitely. Frustrating (but not surprising) to read Drogheda's statement. They're a poor community club, the ruling is unjust, they disagree with it, they'll push for reform, they've never been handed anything - typical activist ******ology. One throwaway line to say they accept responsibility and then back to ranting.

I'd be furious at Trivela if I was a Drogheda fan.

[Mr_Parker]

Where have the FAI been in all this?

An interesting line in the CAS statement this evening.

"The Panel considered the evidence and found that, despite a change of assessment date from 3 June 2025 to 1 March 2025, such change was properly communicated by UEFA and that DUFC knew or ought to have known about this change."

To be aware of this change, a club would need to have had a UEFA Circular of the 7th October 2024 sent to national associations shared with them. Did the FAI share it with the LOI clubs?

If they did not, did the UEFA take the position that "ignorance of the law is no defence" and the CAS accepted that position? The other way to see UEFA Circulars is to check their website on occasion, but as we all know, the intent to keep checking is not always followed through and therefore it is essential that national associations share ALL circulars with clubs, both those from UEFA and those from FIFA.

It will be interesting to see if the full determination is published in the coming months.

[Nesta99]

Definitely. Frustrating (but not surprising) to read Drogheda's statement. They're a poor community club, the ruling is unjust, they disagree with it, they'll push for reform, they've never been handed anything - typical activist ******ology. One throwaway line to say they accept responsibility and then back to ranting.

I'd be furious at Trivela if I was a Drogheda fan.

They were handed a first league and cup back in the day by spending borrowed money. They've always had a victim mentality. They even dodged their end because the FAI reluctantly bought Unted Park to bail them out. I am slightly amused but only because they are not taking any real responsibility, even partially, for the mess. Id still like to know, if anyone does, who different a PD licence is from a European one, just the actual submission envelope and stamp?

[Mr_Parker]

They were handed a first league and cup back in the day by spending borrowed money. They've always had a victim mentality. They even dodged their end because the FAI reluctantly bought Unted Park to bail them out. I am slightly amused but only because they are not taking any real responsibility, even partially, for the mess. Id still like to know, if anyone does, who different a PD licence is from a European one, just the actual submission envelope and stamp?

There are differences. How significant they are is debatable.

You can see them contain in the Licensing document.

https://d2w4iw8gs9jo14.cloudfront.net/8317/3764/1597/2025_Club_Licensing_Manual.pdf

[redobit]

The model they signed up for worked great for them when they won the cup and probably stopped them getting relegated. Its the same model that now is going to work against them. Can't have it every way, when ye know what ye sign up for.

[Bohtastic]

"We will push for reform so that no other community club finds itself in this position again"
Trivela's ownership kind of undermines the plucky little community club battlers tag.

[sbgawa]

so what happens now...do trivela sell? or is it one of these blind trusts to hold the sgares, which is a load of legal ******, they as do the forest owner will still call the shots

[Another Bohemia]

"We will push for reform so that no other community club finds itself in this position again"
Trivela's ownership kind of undermines the plucky little community club battlers tag.

Ironically a community club wouldn't have found themselves in this situation so there's no need to push for reform. The system works. I have some sympathy for the fans of Drogheda and that's where it stops. Trivela & the clubs board dropped the ball on this one and shoulder the majority of the blame. If other clubs are exploiting loopholes the framework to get around the rules exists and can be implemented if they wanted to. They were either too lazy or ignorant to bother.

[Eminence Grise]

Thinking overnight… there must be* a participation clause with the FAI that clubs will not do anything that damages the reputation or integrity of the association and its competitions. Trivela have damaged the league’s ranking with the co-efficient of three clubs divisible by four. (I think the only way they definitively can't damage the ranking is if all clubs lose all their European ties.) Should the FAI take action against Trivela? Punitive action, or force ownership into a blind trust, and make that a condition for any club in a multi-club ownership model going forward?

*Well, it’s the FAI after all so maybe not.

[2 Year Contract]

The pots for today’s draw are out.

Pats will play one of
BFC Daugavpils (LVA)
FCB Magpies (GIB)
NSÍ Runavík (FRO)
FC Hegelmann (LTU)

and Shels will play one of
Fotbal Club FCSB (ROU)
Lincoln Red Imps FC (GIB)
FC Drita (KOS)
Breidablik (ISL)
Linfield FC (NIR)

[pineapple stu]

Thinking overnight… there must be* a participation clause with the FAI that clubs will not do anything that damages the reputation or integrity of the association and its competitions. Trivela have damaged the league’s ranking with the co-efficient of three clubs divisible by four. (I think the only way they definitively can't damage the ranking is if all clubs lose all their European ties.) Should the FAI take action against Trivela? Punitive action, or force ownership into a blind trust, and make that a condition for any club in a multi-club ownership model going forward?

*Well, it’s the FAI after all so maybe not.
I think it makes more sense to think of it as Drogheda scratching both games. So even if all our other teams lose all their games, Drogheda are still impacting the coefficient by waiving their chance at contributing to it.

Under your way of looking at it, any side that performs under the average (which would have been everyone bar Rovers last year) would have damaged the coefficient

I think the clause you suggest makes sense if it's reciprocal. The FAI also can't do anything that damages the reputation or integrity of the clubs and their competitions. :)

And joking aside - and without wanting to shift responsibility for this from Trivela - how were they involved in all this? Did nobody push Drogheda? Or was it not until Silkeborg qualified last month that they realised there was a problem?

[outspoken]

Such a corporate press release

[placid casual]

Under your way of looking at it, any side that performs under the average (which would have been everyone bar Rovers last year) would have damaged the coefficient

This forum is all about opinions of course,but I personally don't think Pats were below average in Europe last season,I think they were slightly above par if anything. id say Shels were about par on their exploits last year..we won't talk about the pub team winning in the brandywell..

If shels can avoid the Romanians and Brideblik today they have a good chance of going through.

[ger121]

The pots for today’s draw are out.

Pats will play one of
BFC Daugavpils (LVA)
FCB Magpies (GIB)
NSÍ Runavík (FRO)
FC Hegelmann (LTU)

and Shels will play one of
Fotbal Club FCSB (ROU)
Lincoln Red Imps FC (GIB)
FC Drita (KOS)
Breidablik (ISL)
Linfield FC (NIR)

Good for Pat’s as a seeded side and very good for Shels as the unseeded side if they can avoid Steaua Nua.

[KianD]

As well as figuring out how to ensure the same thing doesn't happen again; I think this shows that the FAI need to support - from funds they don't have etc etc - other PD clubs in applying for licences to ensure four clubs can go forward in any circumstances.

[ger121]

Geysir, if he is around, might be able to give us the lowdown on how Breidablik compare to the side from 2023.

[oriel]

I think it makes more sense to think of it as Drogheda scratching both games. So even if all our other teams lose all their games, Drogheda are still impacting the coefficient by waiving their chance at contributing to it.

Under your way of looking at it, any side that performs under the average (which would have been everyone bar Rovers last year) would have damaged the coefficient

I think the clause you suggest makes sense if it's reciprocal. The FAI also can't do anything that damages the reputation or integrity of the clubs and their competitions. :)

And joking aside - and without wanting to shift responsibility for this from Trivela - how were they involved in all this? Did nobody push Drogheda? Or was it not until Silkeborg qualified last month that they realised there was a problem?

This would seem to be the case, Trivela essentially 'gambled' on Silkeborg not making ECL due to them being in mid table and out of cup, but they won the end of season euro play off from 6th or 7th spot and made it.

Worse, a Drogs journo who is well versed Barry Landy flagged this potential minefield in early 2025, but seems no one took notice, and nothing was done to counter the 'what if' scenario happened, which it did.

Then they spent 100k + defending it, lost it, and lost out on 525k min, as they could have progressed remember, plus gate money, could have got 700k.

I'd be abs furious with Trivela if I was a Drogs fan.

[pineapple stu]

This forum is all about opinions of course,but I personally don't think Pats were below average in Europe last season,I think they were slightly above par if anything. id say Shels were about par on their exploits last year..we won't talk about the pub team winning in the brandywell..
Well to be clear, I meant in terms of numerical coefficients purely. Pat's did very well in Europe last season - it's just that Rovers did so well that Pat's still dragged our coefficient down when you go by Eminence Grise's thinking. That is, if we had just had Rovers, the LoI would have scored 14.375 points last year. With Rovers/Pat's, our coefficient reduced to 9.188, and so on.

[EalingGreen]

Thinking overnight… there must be* a participation clause with the FAI that clubs will not do anything that damages the reputation or integrity of the association and its competitions. Trivela have damaged the league’s ranking with the co-efficient of three clubs divisible by four. (I think the only way they definitively can't damage the ranking is if all clubs lose all their European ties.) Should the FAI take action against Trivela? Punitive action, or force ownership into a blind trust, and make that a condition for any club in a multi-club ownership model going forward?
Surely what you're suggesting would just cause Trivela to pull out of Drogheda/LOI altogther, on the basis that it's more trouble than it's worth, esp when there are a dozen other comparable leagues which would be more welcoming?

And I can't see the LOI wanting that.

[ger121]

Shels vs Linfield. What a tie.

[EatYerGreens]

It's a collective failure of all PD clubs who didn't bother applying. I guess some will learn and put an application in next season, just in case.

I'd say the only one you can level criticism at would be Derry, at a push, as they should've realised the risk re Drogheda's ownership. Daft to blame anyone else beyond that really. Particularly as there is presumably a decent amount of time, paperwork etc involved in it. Its not as if our clubs aren't busy enough as it is withoiut doing extra work for a miniscule chance that it'd actually be required.

The FAI should mandate it as standard practise now that all PD clubs apply every year moving forwards.

[total hoofball]

Shels vs Linfield best draw possible on so many levels for us with the exception maybe some security headaches wrapping around the week of July 12th

[Another Bohemia]

Shels vs Linfield. What a tie.

Duffs comments about the troubles and marching will inevitably be more entertaining than the actual game

[placid casual]

Well to be clear, I meant in terms of numerical coefficients purely. Pat's did very well in Europe last season - it's just that Rovers did so well that Pat's still dragged our coefficient down when you go by Eminence Grise's thinking. That is, if we had just had Rovers, the LoI would have scored 14.375 points last year. With Rovers/Pat's, our coefficient reduced to 9.188, and so on.

Yeah makes perfect sense now.

Great draw for shels,nordie football is absolutely woeful,Dundalk in their current 1st division guise
would give most of the top 4 IL teams a good game id say

[redobit]

Disappointed in Shamrock fans not having the beach balls out in Drogheda last night.

Joking aside, I do feel for Drogs fans. Going on European adventures is class. Miss them a lot.