More clubs face European bans over multi-ownership, UEFA warns

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UEFA has warned that more clubs could be removed from European competitions next season after reaffirming its uncompromising stance on multi-club ownership rules.

As reported by BBC Sports on Tuesday, the governing body issued a circular on Monday reminding clubs that March 1 remains the strict and final deadline for compliance, stressing that there will be no extensions, exceptions, or loopholes to circumvent the regulations.

The renewed alert comes in the wake of Crystal Palace’s controversial demotion from the Europa League to the Europa Conference League this season.

Palace was deemed to be in violation of multi-club ownership rules due to former co-owner John Textor’s influence at both the Premier League side and French club Lyon.

Integrity concerns prompt tougher enforcement

UEFA rules prohibit two clubs with overlapping ownership from competing in the same European competition. If a conflict arises, the club with the lower domestic finish must forfeit its place.

For years, the rule remained untested, but UEFA’s Club Financial Control Body toughened enforcement last season amid growing concerns that the rapid spread of multi-club ownership threatened the integrity of its competitions.

The compliance assessment date was moved up from 1 June to 1 March, resulting in three clubs being either demoted or removed from European tournaments last summer:

Crystal Palace

Drogheda United of Ireland

FC DAC 1904 of Slovakia

All three appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and lost. CAS last week released its full ruling in Palace’s case, backing UEFA’s assertion that there is no mechanism for clubs to alter ownership arrangements after the deadline.

No Preferential Treatment, CAS Confirms

In their appeal, Palace alleged that clubs such as Nottingham Forest and Chelsea had been given extra time to modify their ownership structures. Forest’s owner, Evangelos Marinakis, had taken steps to dilute his influence at both Forest and Olympiakos, while Chelsea’s owners had issued new shares in Strasbourg in case both qualified for the same competition.

However, CAS dismissed the argument, confirming that UEFA has no regulatory provision allowing such exceptions and noting that the situations were never truly tested because the clubs did not end up in the same tournament.

Deadline Now “Absolute” for All Clubs

Uefa said the fresh communication was necessary to ensure “clarity and predictability” for all clubs preparing for next season. The organisation made it clear that any club involved in a multi-club ownership structure must be fully compliant by 1 March, or risk sanction.

This stance could have significant implications for high-profile ownership groups, including the arrangement linking Manchester United and French club Nice under the INEOS umbrella.

With no room for manoeuvre beyond March, UEFA has signalled that it will not hesitate to take action again next summer if clubs fail to meet the requirements in time.

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