In the past few minutes, Drogheda United have released a club statement on their website confirming that UEFA has notified the club that they face expulsion from this season’s UEFA Conference League due to a multi club ownership rule.
In the club statement it reads ” The club can confirm that it has been notified by UEFA that we are facing expulsion from the UEFA Conference League due to Drogheda United and Silkeborg IF having both qualified for the same competition. This is despite significant efforts by the club to work constructively with UEFA to make necessary ownership and governance changes to allow both to compete over the past several months.”
Drogheda United have confirmed that they will continue to fight their case and have outlined their intentions to take the matter to “the Court for Arbitration for Sport (CAS). Given we are now in the midst of an ongoing legal proceeding, and out of respect for that process, UEFA, the CFCB, and the overall aim of sporting integrity, there are limits to what we are able to share at this time.”
What Happens Next?
With this being entirely a unprecedented scenario what happens next over the coming days and week’s what the European draws set to take place soon. All eyes will be on the appeal process with CAS to see Drogheda United’s future in the competition.
Only 5 League Of Ireland clubs have UEFA licences for the 2025 season so there could be the potential of Athlone Town coming in to replace Drogheda United in the UEFA Conference League.
Another possibility could be another club in the draw in the qualifying rounds would just get a Bye into the next round of the qualifiers.
All eyes will continue to be on this developing story.