LOI In Europe 2025

**Nesta99** · 13/06/2025, 10:18 AM

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.

**2 Year Contract** · 13/06/2025, 10:25 AM

Originally Posted by BigEars

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** · 13/06/2025, 10:27 AM

Originally Posted by 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.

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** · 13/06/2025, 11:09 AM

Originally Posted by 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 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** · 13/06/2025, 12:05 PM

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."