UEFA has warned that more clubs could be removed from European competitions next season after reaffirming its strict stance on multi-club ownership rules.
As reported by BBC Sport on Tuesday, the governing body issued a circular on Monday reminding clubs that March 1 remains the final deadline for full compliance, stressing that no extensions, exceptions or loopholes will be permitted.
The renewed alert follows Crystal Palace’s controversial demotion from the Europa League to the Europa Conference League this season after the club was found to be in breach of ownership rules due to former co-owner John Textor’s influence at both Palace and French side Lyon.
UEFA regulations prohibit two clubs with overlapping ownership from participating in the same European competition. If a conflict arises, the club with the lower domestic finish must give up its slot.
The rules had rarely been tested until last season, when UEFA’s Club Financial Control Body tightened enforcement over growing concerns about the rapid spread of multi-club ownership models. The compliance assessment date was moved from June 1 to March 1, leading to three clubs being removed or demoted last summer: Crystal Palace, Drogheda United of Ireland, and DAC 1904 of Slovakia.
All three clubs appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport but lost. CAS recently published its full ruling on Palace’s case, supporting UEFA’s position that no club can alter its ownership structure after the deadline to avoid sanctions.
In their appeal, Palace argued that Nottingham Forest and Chelsea had been given extra time to restructure their shareholdings. However, CAS dismissed the claim, noting that neither club ended up in the same European competition as their associated teams, meaning the exemption argument did not apply.
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UEFA said its latest reminder aims to provide clarity ahead of next season, emphasising that the March 1 deadline is binding for all clubs involved in multi-ownership arrangements.
The ruling could affect several high-profile groups, including the setup linking Manchester United and French club Nice under the INEOS ownership umbrella.
UEFA insists it will not hesitate to act again next summer if any club fails to meet the requirements in time.