UEFA rules on multi ownership

[oxymoron]

I know Bournmouth haven't qualified for Europe (yet) but it's not exactly impossible, as they are a progressing club. Just reading about the Crystal Palace situation and wondered (apologies if it has been considered already on the forum) if Hibs position with Bournmouth would have had the same implications of one of us missing out? (and knowing the power of our southern neighbours you can be sure it would be us rather than them)

[Since90+2]

I believe the rules are that the team that finishes higher in their domestic league is given the European place (that's what they said regarding Palace this morning).

You'd imagine if it ever happened that it would be us finishing higher.

[danhibees1875]

I believe the rules are that the team that finishes higher in their domestic league is given the European place (that's what they said regarding Palace this morning).

You'd imagine if it ever happened that it would be us finishing higher.

That would be pretty grating as a Bournemouth fan... Imagine they have a stormer next year and qualify for the champions league but can't enter because Hibs have also qualified for Europe.

[Silky]

I believe the rules are that the team that finishes higher in their domestic league is given the European place (that's what they said regarding Palace this morning).

You'd imagine if it ever happened that it would be us finishing higher.

That would be a right boot in the balls for them if, say, we finished third and they were fourth as I think fourth would give them Champions League. I'd be raging if that was us!

[CropleyWasGod]

That would be a right boot in the balls for them if, say, we finished third and they were fourth as I think fourth would give them Champions League. I'd be raging if that was us!

It only applies to the same competition.

In your scenario, we'd be in different ones.

[PatHead]

It only applies to the same competition.

In your scenario, we'd be in different ones.

Pessimist

[Pagan Hibernia]

That would be pretty grating as a Bournemouth fan... Imagine they have a stormer next year and qualify for the champions league but can't enter because Hibs have also qualified for Europe.

They should know their place!

Joking. Of course it would be crap for the Bournemouth fans.

It's all a very messed up situation and now that Pandora's box has been opened its only going to get worse. This is absolutely going to become the norm across the board.

[Since90+2]

It only applies to the same competition.

In your scenario, we'd be in different ones.

Yeah it's only the same competition, and I think the team who lost out drops down a tournament if that's the case.

The problem with Palace is not only do they have some form of joint ownership with Lyon who are in the Europa, they also have a link with Brondby who are in the Conference, so they could be out altogether.

[CropleyWasGod]

Pessimist

3rd place doesn't get CL yet :wink:

[oneone73]

3rd place doesn't get CL yet :wink:

No, but we'd have won the Europa League while finishing third.

[CropleyWasGod]

No, but we'd have won the Europa League while finishing third.

:top marks

[CapitalGreen]

Black Knights FC are a minority shareholder and have no control over our football operations.

John Textor is the largest shareholder in Crystal Palace and the president/controlling owner of Lyon.

[CropleyWasGod]

Black Knights FC are a minority shareholder and have no control over our football operations.

John Textor is the largest shareholder in Crystal Palace and the president/controlling owner of Lyon.

He only has 25% of the voting rights in Palace, which I think is one of the defences.

There are ways around it, as City and Girona did last season.

https://www.catalannews.com/sports/item/uefa-gives-green-light-to-girona-fcto-compete-in-champions-league

[danhibees1875]

It only applies to the same competition.

In your scenario, we'd be in different ones.

I'm surprised at that considering the parachute(s) available between the competitions.

Although, I'm not sure if a CL team can double parachute into the Conference (it would be nice if they couldn't given it's meant to be for us wee guys).

[Paul1642]

I'm surprised at that considering the parachute(s) available between the competitions.

Although, I'm not sure if a CL team can double parachute into the Conference (it would be nice if they couldn't given it's meant to be for us wee guys).

I was about to post this this. Hypothetically Bournemouth qualify for Europa league playoffs or Champions League playoffs, and we qualify for the tournament one level below them, making the group stages. No issue so far. Bournemouth then drop down from the playoffs via a route that takes them into the same group stages as us. Then what?

[matty_f]

We could just do what Hearts are doing with Bloom and say one thing is happening whilst doing another to circumvent the rules. Exactly like they did when they pretended Naismith wasn't the head coach when they were in Europe under him to get around him not being qualified to compete at that level.
Rules don't apply to them when there's a way to cheat the system.

[nonshinyfinish]

I'm surprised at that considering the parachute(s) available between the competitions.

Although, I'm not sure if a CL team can double parachute into the Conference (it would be nice if they couldn't given it's meant to be for us wee guys).

They can, it's parachutes all the way down

[JohnM1875]

They can, it's parachutes all the way down

Through the qualifying stages? Is that right? Really shouldn't be the case.

I know there's no parachuting down at all as soon as the group stages start, which again I think is the right thing.

[J-C]

Last I looked the Gordon's still owned us, so no conflict with Bournemouth

[overdrive]

Last I looked the Gordon's still owned us, so no conflict with Bournemouth

There seems to be rules on not sharing scouting/recruitment systems and knowledge and I don’t think we’d be allowed to loan players between clubs from something I read a few weeks ago when Bournemouth were still able to qualify for Europe.

[CropleyWasGod]

There seems to be rules on not sharing scouting/recruitment systems and knowledge and I don’t think we’d be allowed to loan players between clubs from something I read a few weeks ago when Bournemouth were still able to qualify for Europe.

Here are the actual rules:-

https://documents.uefa.com/r/Regulations-of-the-UEFA-Champions-League-2024/25/Article-5-Integrity-of-the-competition/multi-club-ownership-Online

There is nothing there about sharing knowledge etc.

In the City/Girona case (linked above), part of the deal was that players couldn't be transferred or loaned from one to the other for that year. It's not a general rule, though.

[CropleyWasGod]

Last I looked the Gordon's still owned us, so no conflict with Bournemouth

They own about 65%. BKFC about 25%

It's not just about ownership, though, as the rules (linked above) show.

For example:- No one may simultaneously be involved, either directly or indirectly, in any capacity whatsoever in the management, administration and/or sporting performance of more than one club participating in a UEFA club competition.

I wonder if this is one of the reasons why BF has been replaced by Tim Betzbachenko.

[nonshinyfinish]

Through the qualifying stages? Is that right? Really shouldn't be the case.

Yes: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025%E2%80%9326_UEFA_Champions_League_qualifying_p hase_and_play-off_round#Teams

If you lose in the first round of the champions path you bomb straight from Champions League qualifying to Conference League qualifying, but in all other cases losing a Champions League qualifier means dropping in to the relevant stage of Europa League qualifying. And obviously once you're in those EL qualifiers, the same rules about dropping into Conference League qualifiers apply regardless of how you got there.


I know there's no parachuting down at all as soon as the group stages start, which again I think is the right thing.

Agreed.

Also agree that the extent of 'safety nets' through the qualifying rounds is pretty wild. Obviously we may get some benefit from it this year, but overall it seems like a desperate bid to make sure hardly any big teams get knocked out.