LOI In Europe 2025 [Archive] - Page 5

EalingGreen

24/06/2025, 3:37 PM

See RTE are showin shels linfield home game. But its up to Linfield who they want to televise the 2nd leg in Windsor Park? I imagine Premier Sports will be in or BBC either?

BBC Sport NI is to broadcast live coverage of both legs of the Champions League first qualifying round tie between Irish Premiership champions Linfield and Irish Premier Division winners Shelbourne.

Both matches will also be available to view on the BBC Sport website and app.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c2ezgxn998ro

Hope everyone has renewed their TV Licence! :)

EatYerGreens

24/06/2025, 4:41 PM

BBC Sport NI is to broadcast live coverage of both legs of the Champions League first qualifying round tie between Irish Premiership champions Linfield and Irish Premier Division winners Shelbourne.

Both matches will also be available to view on the BBC Sport website and app.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c2ezgxn998ro

Hope everyone has renewed their TV Licence! :)

I wonder if it'll get geo-blocked outside of the north :D

pateen

24/06/2025, 9:36 PM

Cup runners-up haven't been allowed into Europe for a good few years at this stage. Only Cup winners; everything else through the league.

Id say Derry are kicking themselves

brendy_�ire

25/06/2025, 8:50 AM

Id say Derry are kicking themselves

I'm annoyed, yes, but I think most of us are resigned to how the club is run.

dundalkfc10

25/06/2025, 9:17 AM

I wonder if it'll get geo-blocked outside of the north :D

They don't block any of the Irish League games they show on the iPlayer, so hopefully it will be the same

I was of going to Windsor Park for the second leg but I doubt they are going to have a neutral section (Larne didn't v Rovers)

Nesta99

25/06/2025, 11:35 AM

I'm annoyed, yes, but I think most of us are resigned to how the club is run.

Id be interested in what you mean! Managerial apointments have, on paper, been ambitious, seemed sensible. Budget in place to compete for the league even if its heavily subsidised. Sgnificant ground development even if it took time but thats often the way with public funding. Good attendence averages with sell outs. So there have been some security things reported but outside the ground? Can you blame the onfield mediocrity on how the club is run? The owner is hardly a business mug that would let things be run sloppily unless there is too much money to care about waste that is relative change to him. As Derry will win the league this year will that then suddenly change the thining on how the club is run? Or is there stuff going on that is bugging the fanbase on wider issues than the football, even ticket price increases can be justified sort of. Derry are hardly alone on the Europe miss.

If there is criticism of the FAI in this its that they didnt give clubs a nudge that there might be an opportunity here.

Martinho II

25/06/2025, 2:02 PM

They don't block any of the Irish League games they show on the iPlayer, so hopefully it will be the same

I was of going to Windsor Park for the second leg but I doubt they are going to have a neutral section (Larne didn't v Rovers)

How do you get the Iplayer on the apps as I wouldnt mind watching it DundalkFC10?

brendy_�ire

25/06/2025, 2:31 PM

Id be interested in what you mean! .....

....If there is criticism of the FAI in this its that they didnt give clubs a nudge that there might be an opportunity here.

Off the pitch, I mean. I think we have two full time office staff. They're run off their feet.
The media duties being undertaken by someone with a full-time job, who might run out of the office at lunch to cover a press conference, would be another example.
We also have board members doing vast hours of work to get things like the new stand sorted, funding applications and the like.

I'm not at all knocking the people there, just I know how busy they are. I'd rather we signed a player or two fewer and bumped up the numbers of office staff. Maybe something like missing out on Europe this year could have been picked up earlier. Who knows.
POD did say about getting extra people in, so he recognises the need, and hopefully we'll see improvements soon.

Fair point made about the FAI. They knew, and should have flagged it up to the clubs.

dundalkfc10

25/06/2025, 2:34 PM

How do you get the Iplayer on the apps as I wouldnt mind watching it DundalkFC10?

Just download it from your playstore or appstore. Set up an account and away you go

Most shows are blocked (my partner has tried watch EastEnders etc on it and it's blocked) but any of the Irish League football or GAA they show is always available

EatYerGreens

25/06/2025, 4:37 PM

They don't block any of the Irish League games they show on the iPlayer, so hopefully it will be the same

I was of going to Windsor Park for the second leg but I doubt they are going to have a neutral section (Larne didn't v Rovers)

I'd be very surprised if there wasn't segregation for this game. Windsor is well set up for segregation, it's Linfield v a Dublin club, and it's near the 12th.

Nesta99

25/06/2025, 11:55 PM

Off the pitch, I mean. I think we have two full time office staff. They're run off their feet.
The media duties being undertaken by someone with a full-time job, who might run out of the office at lunch to cover a press conference, would be another example.
We also have board members doing vast hours of work to get things like the new stand sorted, funding applications and the like.

I'm not at all knocking the people there, just I know how busy they are. I'd rather we signed a player or two fewer and bumped up the numbers of office staff. Maybe something like missing out on Europe this year could have been picked up earlier. Who knows.
POD did say about getting extra people in, so he recognises the need, and hopefully we'll see improvements soon.

Fair point made about the FAI. They knew, and should have flagged it up to the clubs.

Yup can see the frustrations with this. Its like putting the cart before the horse by not having more admin type staff if money is not a really big problem. I think Dundalk had 5 or 6 off field staff, of varying ability, before the whole penniless owner situation arose, plus a whole bunch of dedicated volunteers who were also flat out, so 2 staff at a club looking to win the league is shortsighted by O'Doherty how many years in to a push to win the league.

Martinho II

26/06/2025, 1:20 PM

Just download it from your playstore or appstore. Set up an account and away you go

Most shows are blocked (my partner has tried watch EastEnders etc on it and it's blocked) but any of the Irish League football or GAA they show is always available

Tried doing that on my mobile in playstore by typin in BBC I player message says this app isnt possible on google play in your region. Think I would have to go near the border to get a signal!

Buckett

26/06/2025, 3:26 PM

Tried doing that on my mobile in playstore by typin in BBC I player message says this app isnt possible on google play in your region. Think I would have to go near the border to get a signal!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer

2 Year Contract

30/06/2025, 9:33 AM

Just saw this on Twitter. It wont be any consolation to Drogheda, but they’re now not the only club that’s been thrown out on the multi club ownership ruling. Strange that this one’s been done after the draw though. Some carrot for those other two sides playing each other in the first round!

BREAKING

Slovakian media report that UEFA has made a decision to KICK OUT DAC Dunajska Streda from Conference League.

Reason is multiple club ownership, as DAC have the same owner as
Györ ETO who also participates in UECL.

Since the Q2 draw has already been made, no club can replace DAC in the competition, which means that the Q1 winner of Urartu v Neman Grodno will get a BYE to Q3!

Slovakia should continue forward with only 3 teams, but their points will be divided by 4.

2 Year Contract

30/06/2025, 9:41 AM

Also just seeing this, looks like UEFA’s most dreaded case of having to throw out a club from one of the big 5 leagues might be sorting itself out for them

UEFA postponed decision on Crystal Palace's Europa League spot due to a multi-club ownership with Lyon.

UEFA will wait for the outcome of appeal Lyon made after relegation to Ligue 2.

Lyon will be kicked out of the Europa League if relegation is confirmed.

Nesta99

30/06/2025, 10:13 AM

Also just seeing this, looks like UEFA’s most dreaded case of having to throw out a club from one of the big 5 leagues might be sorting itself out for them

Is that info very recent as I read yesterday that Lyon sorted out some transfer business, like getting add-ons up front to avoid financial sanction? All very messy!!

outspoken

30/06/2025, 10:29 AM

Is that info very recent as I read yesterday that Lyon sorted out some transfer business, like getting add-ons up front to avoid financial sanction? All very messy!!

Aye PSG paid up front for some player they bought or something

pineapple stu

30/06/2025, 10:37 AM

Thought the Palace issue was resolved given yer man sold his shares, no?

This does all sound very positive anyway if you want to avoid multi-club ownership. Which I think you do in general.

2 Year Contract

30/06/2025, 10:42 AM

Is that info very recent as I read yesterday that Lyon sorted out some transfer business, like getting add-ons up front to avoid financial sanction? All very messy!!
As of half 10 this morning yeah. The tweet is here

https://x.com/footrankings/status/1939619136549667283?s=46

A good page to follow for anything coefficient related etc

sbgawa

30/06/2025, 1:27 PM

I still say the whole thing is a joke. Put the shares in a blind trust while still running the show and you are fine.
The Forest example is the clearest of all. Owner publically bollicking the Manager even though in UEFA's eyes he isnt running Forest.
Personally i think theyd be better off just saying if two clubs are owned by the same owner both revert to the 1st qualifying round for the compeittion and play each other there.
Otherwise its just multi club ownership free for all behind rules that are a con

Buckett

30/06/2025, 1:52 PM

Personally i think theyd be better off just saying if two clubs are owned by the same owner both revert to the 1st qualifying round for the compeittion and play each other there.
Otherwise its just multi club ownership free for all behind rules that are a con

That's a really good idea

EalingGreen

30/06/2025, 2:05 PM

Also just seeing this, looks like UEFA’s most dreaded case of having to throw out a club from one of the big 5 leagues might be sorting itself out for themTbf, it's not like they're trying to keep s.o. from the Big Five in at the expense of a club from outside that group.

Anyhow, the BBC offers this interpretation of UEFA's motives:

"Uefa's decision to postpone their ruling was not a shock to Crystal Palace.
Enquiries made on Friday has led BBC Sport to believe that there is major concern among leading figures at Selhurst Park that Uefa doesn't want to rule on the matter - but wants the decision taken out of its hands by the DNCG, the regulatory body of French football.
If Lyon's relegation stands, Palace should be in next season's Europa League. If Lyon win their appeal, then Uefa will have to rule whether John Textor, who currently owns shares in both clubs, has held significant control at Palace.
Palace dispute that Textor held major control at the club and argue they are not in breach of Uefa's multi-club ownership regulations.
There is some sense at Palace that certain figures at Uefa are sympathetic with their predicament - that they earned the right to compete in next season's Europa League through sporting endeavours.
However, there is clearly a sense that the case isn't straightforward otherwise Uefa would have ruled in their favour by now."
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/crmvv2p8jelo

Bear in mind, too, that if UEFA should have to rule on this matter, then it would be open to either Lyon or Palace to appeal to CAS, where they might have a stronger case than eg Drogs.

While I suspect that they're pleased that at least the PL's entrant this season could be a new team, rather than just another one from "the usual suspects".

EalingGreen

30/06/2025, 2:14 PM

I still say the whole thing is a joke. Put the shares in a blind trust while still running the show and you are fine.
The Forest example is the clearest of all. Owner publically bollicking the Manager even though in UEFA's eyes he isnt running Forest.
Except that at Forest, Marinakis is the boss 100% - no opposition, Trust or no Trust.

Whereas at Palace, Textor has long been at odds with other major shareholders. Meaning that if he did put his shares in a trust, it would effectively be "blind" i.e. he'd lose whatever influence he has. Which he's clearly not prepared to do for no return, meaning he's looking to sell the shares instead.

Personally i think theyd be better off just saying if two clubs are owned by the same owner both revert to the 1st qualifying round for the compeittion and play each other there.
Otherwise its just multi club ownership free for all behind rules that are a conCan't agree, since in those circumstances the owner (singular) would just decide which club he would prefer to go through, and instruct the other club's manager accordingly. Which would be completely against the spirit of free and fair competition.

In the end, it must be for UEFA to decide, on the basis of sporting merit.

sbgawa

30/06/2025, 3:03 PM

Except that at Forest, Marinakis is the boss 100% - no opposition, Trust or no Trust.

Whereas at Palace, Textor has long been at odds with other major shareholders. Meaning that if he did put his shares in a trust, it would effectively be "blind" i.e. he'd lose whatever influence he has. Which he's clearly not prepared to do for no return, meaning he's looking to sell the shares instead.

Can't agree, since in those circumstances the owner (singular) would just decide which clu%b he would prefer to go through, and instruct the other club's manager accordingly. Which would be completely against the spirit of free and fair competition.

In the end, it must be for UEFA to decide, on the basis of sporting merit.

100% or in the case of Textor 45% if you believe had he stayed on he would have had no significant control over club decsions (the UEFA test) just becasue he put the shares in a blind trust you are imo dreaming.
He has cashed out of Palace at the top end of valuations with them in Europe for the first time.

I also think it wouldnt be as easy as picking which team to win, its literally impossible to make that happen in real life, its illeagal for a start match fixing and impossible to keep quiet. The Manager (who you will probably be sacking soon enough) couldnt be trusted to keep quiet for ever and what about the players......and their families / Mates.

pateen

30/06/2025, 3:05 PM

Does anyone have the dates and times for LOI teams involved in Europe?

EatYerGreens

30/06/2025, 3:05 PM

pineapple stu

30/06/2025, 3:10 PM

Does anyone have the dates and times for LOI teams involved in Europe?
Wiki is usually your best source there as kick-off times get announced.

So Conference League (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025%E2%80%9326_UEFA_Conference_League_qualifying_ (first_and_second_round_matches)#Matches) and Champions League (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025%E2%80%9326_UEFA_Champions_League_qualifying_p hase_and_play-off_round#Matches).

EalingGreen

30/06/2025, 9:13 PM

100% or in the case of Textor 45% if you believe had he stayed on he would have had no significant control over club decsions (the UEFA test) just becasue he put the shares in a blind trust you are imo dreaming.
He has cashed out of Palace at the top end of valuations with them in Europe for the first time.Undoubtedly in the case of Marinakis, but Textor is different, since he's been arguing with the other Directors virtually since he arrived.

As for "cashing out", why would he voluntarily divest himself of control over the most valuable club in the Group? Sure, he might have received top dollar (though maybe not seeing as he was a forced seller), but people like that value control and power over money, which is only a means to those ends.

I also think it wouldnt be as easy as picking which team to win, its literally impossible to make that happen in real life, its illeagal for a start match fixing and impossible to keep quiet. The Manager (who you will probably be sacking soon enough) couldnt be trusted to keep quiet for ever and what about the players......and their families / Mates.

Plus - the players can do whatever they want when on the pitch. And you can't sack them if they refuse to play along with whatever they're told to do.If it were that difficult to fix, why don't UEFA just permit both sides to enter?

Naive in the extreme imo.

P.S. Dunno if I've posted it on here before, but there is an incredible piece of investigative journalism on drugs, corruption and violence in Greece here in this link:
https://newrepublic.com/article/159252/noor-one-vampire-ship-heroin-turkey-greece-corruption-scandal

It's well worth sitting doen with a cup of tea to read through it - a ceratin large, bearded Greek gentleman with an interest in football both in Greece and abroad appears about half way through.

Buckett

01/07/2025, 12:23 AM

That's a crazy story, can't wait to see how it turns out!

ccity

01/07/2025, 8:57 AM

Does anyone have the dates and times for LOI teams involved in Europe?

Shels are at home to Linfield on Wednesday July 9th
Pats are at home on Thursday July 10th in the Conference league.
Second legs of both matches are on Wednesday & Thursday of the following week.

pateen

05/07/2025, 12:56 PM

Anyone know what the allocation and capacity is for both teams, home and away?

total hoofball

05/07/2025, 1:58 PM

Anyone know what the allocation and capacity is for both teams, home and away?
The Tolka game will be at a reduced all seating capacity of 3,500-3,600 with Linfield receiving an allocation of 280 tickets only on sale to their members. Game is sold out
For the Windsor Park game Shels are receiving an allocation of 1,300 tickets which will be on sale to season ticket holders on Monday night

pineapple stu

05/07/2025, 8:34 PM

I see DAC Dunajska Streda (Connor Ronan's former team) have been expelled from the Conference League (https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/029a-1e1f6cbd9ca1-f7e573c4c485-1000--update-on-multi-club-ownership-cases-for-admission-to-the-/) for the same reason as Drogheda. In their case, Györ of Hungary were given the one spot between them on the basis of higher UEFA ranking, with both clubs having finished fourth in their respective divisions. The owners, Vilagi, are taking their case to CAS as well. Podbrezová, who have never qualified for Europe before, are next in line for a spot, though there's a poster on the Bert Kassies forum saying that as they were kicked out after the draw had been made (they were down to play the winners or Urartu of Armenia and Neman Grodno of Belarus), a new club can't replace them and Slovakia will also only have three sides in Europe this year.

Not quite sure why the decision was taken so late though.

The Lyon/Crystal Palace case isn't yet resolved, pending Lyon's appeal against relegation (which has also seen them withdrawn from Europe, which would of course solve the problem straight off)

EatYerGreens

06/07/2025, 10:59 PM

I see DAC Dunajska Streda (Connor Ronan's former team) have been expelled from the Conference League (https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/029a-1e1f6cbd9ca1-f7e573c4c485-1000--update-on-multi-club-ownership-cases-for-admission-to-the-/) for the same reason as Drogheda. In their case, Györ of Hungary were given the one spot between them on the basis of higher UEFA ranking, with both clubs having finished fourth in their respective divisions. The owners, Vilagi, are taking their case to CAS as well. Podbrezová, who have never qualified for Europe before, are next in line for a spot, though there's a poster on the Bert Kassies forum saying that as they were kicked out after the draw had been made (they were down to play the winners or Urartu of Armenia and Neman Grodno of Belarus), a new club can't replace them and Slovakia will also only have three sides in Europe this year.

Not quite sure why the decision was taken so late though.

Ironic, and a tad hilarious, that DAC Dunajska Streda lost out to a Hungarian club under the same ownership. Streda are the club of Slovakia's ethnic Hungarian population, with a fan base that is very Hungarian nationalist and separation-minded. Viktor Orban likes to cause mischief by stoking up issues re ethnic Hungarians in other countries (including Ukraine) and is very supportive of Streda. Hungarian football is infected by extreme nationalism - as seen by groups like the black-shirted ultra-right Carpathian Brigade who stand behind the goals at international games - and Streda are part of that universe. So fcuk them :)

D24Saint

07/07/2025, 8:20 AM

Anyone know what the allocation and capacity is for both teams, home and away?

I think we can get around 2500 or thereabouts on Thursday. I wouldn’t think there was much demand for away tickets but they probably got some for the Lithuanian community here. The away game will be played in their new enough stadium in a village outside of Kaunas , it holds 1500 in total and all seated. We have managed to get three hundred tickets and most of them have been sold.

ger121

08/07/2025, 5:48 PM

Currently Joseph’s 2 -2 Cliftonville with a few minutes to go. Cliftonville down to 10.

sbgawa

08/07/2025, 7:32 PM

Watched second half. Both teams very poor. Rovers should beat either by a few. Of the two clifftonville the less rubbish

oriel

08/07/2025, 8:23 PM

I was looking at something earlier, wanted to see how many LOI clubs Linfield played in Europe, only 3 before, Dundalk 79, Rovers 84 and Cork C in 2016, the only one they got past was Rovers (away goals).

Then looked at their overall record, for a club that has the most appearances in all of Ireland in Europe, their win rate is very low, but % of wins is on par with LOI clubs.

Linfield P 141 - W 29 (win rate % 20.5%)

Rovers P 122 - W 31 (25.4%)

Glentoran P 104 - W 11 (10.5%)

Dundalk P 94 - W 20 (21.2%)

Bohs P 73 - W 17 (23.2%)

Pats P 68 - W 16 (23.5%)

Cork C P 62 W 14 (22.5%)

Shels P 57 - W 10 (17.5%)

Derry C P 49 - W 12 (24.5%)

Some interesting takes there, Rovers have biggest % win rate overall taking into account most games**, Linfield as mentioned have a very poor win actual games but similar % win to rest, Glentoran performances seem very poor with only 11 wins from over 100 games.

I was also quite surprised at the 'low' games played figure was for Shels games - but think they went through 30 year period with no league titles. Also surprised at how many euro games Cork C played, but 16 of them (4 wins) were Inter toto cup.

**And lastly our old friends Drogs coming in at P16 and won 5 have a win % of 31.2%, which is the highest, but have to factor in only 16 games, heady days indeed from their debut in 1983 with a 0-14 agg defeat to Spurs, after Dundalk lost 2-1 on agg 2 years earlier to same team!

placid casual

09/07/2025, 7:12 AM

I think we can get around 2500 or thereabouts on Thursday. I wouldn’t think there was much demand for away tickets but they probably got some for the Lithuanian community here. The away game will be played in their new enough stadium in a village outside of Kaunas , it holds 1500 in total and all seated. We have managed to get three hundred tickets and most of them have been sold.
Fair play to the 300 travelling.
European football, and all that goes with it, really is the icing on the cake of watching LOI football in my view.

oriel

09/07/2025, 10:12 AM

Fair play to the 300 travelling.
European football, and all that goes with it, really is the icing on the cake of watching LOI football in my view.

100% agree, as apart from a work trip I'd prob never have got to Lux, and def would never have visited Tallin or Gibraltar. Its just a fantastic trip, and all will be usually very good / hot weather too, apart from a few mates who were in St Petersburg and -12 in 2016 !

Louth4sam

09/07/2025, 10:23 AM

100% agree, as apart from a work trip I'd prob never have got to Lux, and def would never have visited Tallin or Gibraltar. Its just a fantastic trip, and all will be usually very good / hot weather too, apart from a few mates who were in St Petersburg and -12 in 2016 !

Missed the Gibraltar trip which I really regret now as it might be a while before we are in Europe again. Didn't make Varteks in 2002 and vowed I'd go to as many as possible should we ever get in to Europe again. Been on 11 away European trips and as Placid Casual says it's the pinnacle of watching LOI football.

nr637

09/07/2025, 10:29 AM

Shels are at home to Linfield on Wednesday July 9th
Pats are at home on Thursday July 10th in the Conference league.
Second legs of both matches are on Wednesday & Thursday of the following week.

And are they on TV?

Jolly Red Giant

09/07/2025, 10:38 AM

And are they on TV?
Shels v Lingfield is on RTE2 and the RTE player

The Pats game isn't on TV but is on one of the paid streaming services

Straightstory

09/07/2025, 11:03 AM

Shels v Lingfield is on RTE2 and the RTE player

The Pats game isn't on TV but is on one of the paid streaming services

Which streaming service do you know?
Last year, I was keen to watch Sham Rovers' away games in Europe, but trying to access the Europa League and Conference League streams on Premier Sports/TNT Sports/Now TV (or whatever they're called) was a nightmare. I gave up in the end.

pateen

09/07/2025, 11:44 AM

Fair play to the 300 travelling.
European football, and all that goes with it, really is the icing on the cake of watching LOI football in my view.

Totally agreed.
Best of luck to Shelbourne tonight

pineapple stu

09/07/2025, 6:54 PM

Rough-looking injury for Linfield there in the first couple of minutes - ball blasted into the back of the head of a player on the ground from point-blank range. Fortunately it was the back of his head - could have been much worse otherwise.

And an outstanding save to deny Caffrey there - assuming the Linfield keeper fully knew what he was doing!

Maybe worth looking at what to expect from the aul coefficient this year as we start off again. We ended last year in 31st, but 4.7 points off Azerbaijan in 30th. After wiping the 20/21 score, we drop to 32nd, 0.038 behind Moldova and 2.8 behind Bulgaria in 30th.

For all Bulgaria's football problems lately, it seems to much to catch them this year. Iceland are 0.2 behind us and then there's a big gap of 1.7 back to Armenia.

So really 31/32/33 seems where we'll end this year. But with Drogheda out and scoring 0, mid-table Shels in the Champions League and less likely to reach the Conference groups (let along get out of them) and Pat's misfiring too, it seems like a damage limitation season may be best. 2.5 probably a good score?

Worth noting too Shels are on a 10-match home unbeaten run in Europe, which I'm fairly sure is a record. Goes back 21 years, with Olimpija Ljubljana the last side to beat them in Tolka, in the 2003/04 Champions League. Seem to recall they drew Liverpool in the next round.