Drogheda United Lose CAS Appeal, Expelled From Conference League

Drogheda United, winners of the Irish FAI Cup, have lost their appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport against their expulsion from the UEFA Conference League due to violations of UEFA's multi-club ownership rules. The club is owned by the Trivela Group, which also holds a majority stake in Danish side Silkeborg, both qualifying for the same competition, leading to Drogheda's removal in favor of the higher-ranked Silkeborg. Despite extensive efforts to comply with UEFA regulations and multiple proposals to allow both clubs to compete, CAS upheld the expulsion, citing proper communication of rule changes and rejecting claims of unequal treatment. Drogheda expressed heartbreak and disagreement with the decision, highlighting the loss of significant UEFA prize money and the setback of missing European competition for the first time since 2013. This case mirrors ongoing scrutiny in UEFA competitions, including investigations into Crystal Palace's eligibility due to shared ownership with Olympique Lyonnais. The ruling underscores UEFA's strict enforcement of multi-club ownership regulations to prevent conflicts of interest in European football tournaments.