Will Premier League clubs face demotion over multi-club ownership rules in 2026?

Multiple Premier League clubs risk losing European spots due to UEFA's strict multi-club ownership regulations with a March 1 deadline.

Europe’s tight ownership scrutiny As the Premier League’s race for European places intensifies, clubs are scrambling to meet UEFA’s stringent multi-club ownership rules before the governing body’s bureaucratic checks. The urgency stems from UEFA’s zero-tolerance policy, which has already forced teams like Crystal Palace to drop from the Europa League to the Conference League. Half of the Premier League squads now operate under some form of multi-club arrangements, leaving them vulnerable to demotion or exclusion if ownership structures breach UEFA’s integrity standards. ## March deadline forces last-minute legal moves Everton, Chelsea, and Nottingham Forest raced against the clock ahead of UEFA’s March 1 compliance deadline, deploying lawyers to restructure ownership ties. Brighton, on the other hand, relies on steps taken three years prior to avoid similar pitfalls. Clubs have held urgent discussions with UEFA to ensure their governance models align with the governing body’s demands, with pressure mounting to avoid last season’s fate of Palace, Drogheda United, and FC DAC 1904, all penalized for ownership conflicts. ## UEFA’s ownership rules explained UEFA emphasizes that sporting fairness is non-negotiable, requiring absolute transparency in multi-club setups. Triggers include total shareholding or voting rights exceeding 30% and decisive influence by shared directors or staff in key decisions. If UEFA’s Club Financial Control Body identifies a conflict, one club must withdraw from European competition, prioritizing the higher-ranked team in cases of overlapping qualifications. Premier League clubs currently top UEFA’s coefficient rankings. ## Everton and Roma’s complex ownership link Everton and Roma’s connection, though lesser-known, poses a potential flashpoint under UEFA’s rules. Everton sit 11th in the Premier League, just three points behind sixth, while Roma are level on points with fifth in Serie A, both chasing Europa League spots. Both clubs fall under the Friedkin Group’s umbrella, with Everton controlled by Roundhouse Capital Holdings and Roma by Romulus and Remus Investments. Analaura Moreira-Dunkel and Marcus Watts, high-ranking Friedkin officials, sit on Everton’s board and previously had ties to Roma, though their current roles there remain unclear. ## Friedkin’s dual role under the microscope U.S. billionaire Dan Friedkin serves as chairman of Everton and president of Roma, fueling concerns over shared decision-making. UEFA’s broad definition of control, decisive influence, and shared decision-making could expose Everton to sanctions. Palace argued John Textor had no operational control at Selhurst Park, but the Court of Arbitration for Sport sided with UEFA, citing his involvement in transfers and appointments. Everton insist they’ve implemented a viable solution but have not disclosed its nature, ruling out a blind trust—the route Forest pursued. ## Chelsea and Strasbourg’s BlueCo dilemma Chelsea and Strasbourg’s entangled operations under BlueCo present another test for UEFA’s multi-club ownership policy. Manager Liam Rosenior moved from Strasbourg to Chelsea in December, and 11 players have transferred between the clubs this season. BlueCo responded by removing four board members linked to both entities on February 17, including Chelsea’s joint-sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart, along with Chelsea-linked directors James Pade and Jeffrey Wilbur. Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali also stepped down as directors of BlueCo Data Limited on February 28, though they remain on Chelsea’s board. ## Potential trading freeze looms for Chelsea and Strasbourg If Chelsea and Strasbourg qualify for the same European competition, past rulings suggest a player-trading freeze until January 2028 could be enforced. Chelsea’s Champions League hopes have faded due to poor form, leaving their European fate uncertain. Strasbourg, currently eighth in Ligue 1, could secure a Europa League spot via the Conference League or domestic qualification. UEFA’s rules lack a specific clause for titleholders like Strasbourg, which could force a decision if they qualify through multiple paths. Chelsea’s FA Cup final berth adds another variable, with victory guaranteeing Europa League football. ## Forest’s blind trust faces UEFA’s scrutiny Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis placed the club into a blind trust last year to avoid conflicts with Olympiakos, his other team, should both qualify for the Champions League. Forest’s Europa League semifinal run keeps their European ambitions alive, with Olympiakos also targeting a Champions League spot. Marinakis transferred his controlling stake to Pittville Four Limited, controlled by independent trustees Janet Lucy Gibson, Henry Peter Hickman, and Eleanor Catherine Walsh, who joined Forest’s board on February 28. The Premier League’s directors’ register, last updated April 1, still listed Marinakis and other former directors, raising questions over compliance timing. ## Forest awaits UEFA’s blind trust verdict Forest argue Marinakis relinquished control on February 28 and are confident UEFA will recognize the blind trust. Two years ago, UEFA accepted blind trusts for Manchester City/Girona and Manchester United/Nice, deeming multi-club ownership issues resolved. However, UEFA warned then that blind trusts would not automatically apply in future seasons. Without a fresh ruling, Forest’s solution remains untested, leaving their European path uncertain. The CFCB’s decision could set a precedent for similar cases. ## Brighton’s Hearts and Union Saint-Gilloise ties Tony Bloom has expanded Brighton’s portfolio to include Scottish Premiership leaders Hearts and Belgian club Union Saint-Gilloise, all three potentially qualifying for Europe. Bloom reduced his Union Saint-Gilloise stake below 30% before the 2023-24 Europa League season to avoid conflicts with Brighton’s qualification. When acquiring Hearts last year, Bloom structured his 29% stake to preempt similar issues. His governance model appears designed to comply with UEFA’s rules, though the arrangement remains untested in a competitive season. ## Leeds and Rangers’ ownership reshuffle Leeds’ European hopes ended with a FA Cup semifinal loss to Chelsea, but the club had already addressed a potential conflict with Rangers. Both clubs are tied through 49ers Enterprises, which owns Leeds outright and 51% of Rangers. Paraag Marathe, a Leeds director exercising 49ers Enterprises’ voting rights, also served as Rangers’ vice-chairman before resigning on February 27, along with Gene Schneur, who held dual board positions. Leeds believe these changes resolve any multi-club ownership issues under UEFA’s rules.