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Drogheda United’s hopes of competing in next season’s UEFA Europa Conference League have ended after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) dismissed the club’s appeal against expulsion due to a breach of UEFA’s multi-club ownership regulations.
The League of Ireland side had secured qualification by winning the FAI Cup last November but were barred from participating after UEFA ruled that their shared ownership with Danish club Silkeborg IF violated integrity rules. Both clubs are majority-owned by the US-based Trivela Group.
Under UEFA statutes, no individual or legal entity may exert “decisive influence” over more than one club competing in the same European competition. In this case, Silkeborg, who finished higher in the Danish league, retained their spot in the second qualifying round of the Conference League ahead of Drogheda.
Drogheda expressed their dismay in a statement confirming the decision by CAS on Monday.
“It is with great heartbreak and disbelief that we inform you we have lost our appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport,” the club said.
“After months of engagement, constructive dialogue, countless hours of legal preparation, and multiple proposals based on frameworks that have been accepted in the past, we have come up short. Despite genuine and vocal support across the football world, the ruling did not fall in our favour. We are heartbroken by the outcome.”
The club criticised what it described as the inconsistent application of UEFA’s rules and voiced its frustration over the outcome.
“We strongly disagree with this decision, and had hoped and believed that the principles of fairness and common sense would prevail,” Drogheda said.
“Despite genuine and vocal support across the football world, the ruling did not fall in our favour. We are heartbroken by the outcome.”
UEFA confirmed that Drogheda had not met the March 1 deadline to restructure its ownership or executive arrangements to avoid conflict. CAS judges determined that Drogheda had been adequately informed of the requirements and, in a 2-1 decision, rejected claims of unequal treatment. The court noted Drogheda "knew or ought to have known about" UEFA's position on such ownership conflicts.
The expulsion means Drogheda will forfeit a minimum of €350,000 in UEFA prize money, with estimates placing the total financial hit at over €525,000. The club acknowledged its accountability, despite calling the situation unjust.
“We believe it is unjust. Rules should protect opportunity, not prevent it,” Drogheda stated. “Nevertheless, we accept responsibility. And we're sorry.”
While Silkeborg will proceed in the competition, Drogheda's removal leaves no Irish club eligible to take their place. Both Derry City and other potential replacements missed the UEFA licensing deadline.
UEFA is expected to finalise the draws for the Conference League qualifying rounds on Tuesday.
Similar multi-club ownership issues have been resolved in the past with temporary blind trusts or structural adjustments, as seen with clubs like Manchester City, AC Milan, Brighton, and Aston Villa. Meanwhile, UEFA is still assessing potential conflicts between Lyon and Crystal Palace, with Palace part-owned by Lyon’s American investor John Textor.
Featured Image Credit: X / @DroghedaUnited
