UEFA excludes Slovak club from European competitions, Crystal Palace awaits outcome

DAC Dunajská Streda, one of Slovakia’s most prominent clubs, has been officially excluded by UEFA from participating in the 2024/25 UEFA Conference League.

The decision, which has sparked disappointment and controversy in Slovak football, centers around the club’s ownership structure specifically, the involvement of Hungarian businessman Oszkár Világi, who also owns Hungarian club ETO FC Győr.

Initially, DAC had qualified to enter the second qualifying round of the Conference League after a strong domestic campaign. However, UEFA regulations strictly prohibit two clubs with the same ownership or under the same significant influence from competing in the same European tournament. Since ETO FC Győr is also scheduled to join the competition at the same stage and holds a superior UEFA coefficient, the European football governing body has ruled that only the Hungarian side will be allowed to proceed.

The ruling is a clear application of Article 5 of the UEFA Club Competitions regulations, which aims to safeguard the integrity of its competitions by preventing potential conflicts of interest and ensuring fair competition. UEFA's stance, while not new, has gained renewed attention this year as more football conglomerates and multi-club ownership structures are tested on the European stage.

This case involving DAC and Győr is not isolated. In fact, it mirrors a much more high-profile and potentially explosive situation involving Olympique Lyon and Crystal Palace. Both clubs are under the umbrella of American businessman John Textor, whose Eagle Football Group holds a controlling stake in Lyon and a significant shareholding in Crystal Palace. Both teams are currently in line to compete in the 2024/25 UEFA Europa League group stage but that participation is now under threat.

Textor’s ownership situation has drawn intense scrutiny in recent weeks, particularly after Lyon was administratively relegated to Ligue 2 due to financial irregularities. Though the French club is appealing the decision, UEFA has already stated that Lyon will not be allowed to take part in European competitions if the relegation is upheld, regardless of their sporting qualification. The timing of this ruling is crucial, as UEFA was originally scheduled to make a definitive statement on the Lyon–Palace situation this week, but that decision has now been delayed.

Meanwhile, tensions are rising across Europe as clubs and investors alike await clarity from UEFA. The Irish club Drogheda United, another example of a team blocked from Europe due to ownership overlaps, has already faced the consequences of this strict regulation. UEFA has made it clear that even minority stakes or perceived influence from shared ownership can be grounds for disqualification.

This approach is increasingly relevant in an era where multi-club ownership models are becoming more common. Giants like City Football Group, Red Bull, and Eagle Football Group have built networks of clubs across various countries and competitions, posing new challenges to UEFA’s regulatory framework. The organization now finds itself under pressure to maintain consistency and transparency while balancing commercial realities and sporting fairness.

In the case of DAC, the ruling is not only a sporting setback but also a financial one. Participation in European competitions is a vital source of revenue and exposure for clubs from smaller leagues. Missing out on this opportunity especially after earning it on the pitch represents a major blow to both the club and Slovak football more broadly.

As for Lyon and Crystal Palace, the stakes could not be higher. Both clubs are preparing for pre-season with uncertainty hanging over their European ambitions. Should Lyon’s appeal against relegation fail, they will not only lose domestic status but also forfeit their Europa League place potentially giving Palace a clearer path to Europe, unless UEFA determines that Textor’s dual involvement breaches ownership rules even in that scenario.

For now, UEFA has chosen to delay its ruling, perhaps seeking to avoid legal backlash or awaiting the outcome of Lyon’s appeal. But the message from Nyon is clear: club ownership structures must adhere strictly to competition rules, and the governing body is willing to enforce them even if it means reshaping next season’s European line-up at the last minute.