Drogheda on Brink of Conference League Expulsion as CAS Appeal Looms

Drogheda United has announced that they have been banned from participating in the upcoming UEFA Conference League due to regulations surrounding club common ownership.

The Irish club intends to contest the ruling at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

Drogheda secured their spot in the European competition by clinching victory in the FAI Cup in 2024.

However, Silkeborg, a Danish outfit also under the ownership of the American Trivela group, locked in their place in the Conference League after winning a play-off, finishing top of the play-out phase.

In contrast, Drogheda finished in ninth position in the Irish Premier League.

UEFA’s regulations stipulate that two clubs controlled by the same owner cannot compete in the same tournament simultaneously.

According to UEFA’s guidelines, the higher-placed team—Silkeborg in this case—takes precedence, resulting in Drogheda United’s automatic exclusion.

‘We are heartbroken’

In a statement issued on Thursday, Drogheda expressed: “The club has received notification from UEFA regarding our exclusion from the UEFA Conference League, as both Drogheda United and Silkeborg have qualified for the same competition.

“This comes despite our extensive efforts to engage constructively with UEFA to implement the necessary changes in ownership and governance to facilitate participation for both teams in recent months.

“We are heartbroken by this decision, which we believe is not just painful but also unjust, especially considering that the new rules introduced this year have, in our perspective, been inconsistently communicated and enforced across various clubs.”

“We are appealing decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

“We have maintained active dialogue with UEFA for several months and have proposed share disposals, fiduciary arrangements, and other commitments in line with established CFCB precedents— all of which have been dismissed. Nonetheless, we look forward to presenting our case to CAS and appreciate the support we’ve received.”

This exclusion represents a significant financial setback for Drogheda, which stood to gain over €500,000 from their participation in the Conference League.

Furthermore, UEFA has confirmed that no other club from the Irish Premier League can take Drogheda’s place, as the deadline for the club to obtain their European licence has lapsed.