IRISH club Drogheda United have been expelled from the UEFA Conference League due to multi-club ownership rules.
The Boynesiders are currently owned by the Trivela Group – an organisation which also has a majority share in Danish side Silkeborg IF.
Silkeborg have also qualified for the but their involvement means that Drogheda United are unable to compete due to regulations.
Drogheda were expelled from next season’s competition as a result, with Silkeborg having finished this term in a higher league position.
However, club officials plan to appeal the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) imminently.
A statement read: “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.
“We are devastated by this potential development and believe it would be both harsh and unfair, given the way brand new rule changes this year have been, in our view, inconsistently communicated and enforced across various clubs.
“We are now appealing the decision 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 we can say is this: we are—even at this late hour—fighting to do anything and everything we can to secure our players’, supporters’, and community’s place in Europe.
“We have been in active dialogue with UEFA for months and have put forward a share disposition, trust arrangements, and various other undertakings consistent with recent CFCB precedent, only to have all of those efforts rebuffed.
“Nevertheless, we look forward to the opportunity to be heard at CAS and thank you in advance for your support. Keep the faith.”;
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The club’s largest shareholder, John Textor, is also the majority owner of , who also qualified for the competition this season.
French side Lyon have been granted priority as they finished higher in the league table, with having qualified by last month.
Palace officials have already met with UEFA chiefs in Switzerland, arguing that Textor has no controlling influence at Selhurst Park.
They are now by the end of June.
Amid the ongoing battle, Textor is looking to sell his shares in Crystal Palace.
He reportedly this week.
Should Textor sell up by June 27, Palace will keep their place in the Europa League.
