DROGHEDA UNITED HAVE been expelled from the Uefa Conference League after losing an appeal with the Court for Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
The League of Ireland club submitted an appeal after Uefa notified them that they face expulsion from this season’s Uefa Conference League regarding multi-club ownership for the FAI Cup champions.
Along with missing out on European action, Drogheda will also be denied over €500,000 in prize money, due to multi-club ownership rules.
They are owned by American investors Trivela Group and qualified for the Conference League after winning last season’s FAI Cup.
However, Danish side Silkeborg IF are also part of Trivela’s structure and won their domestic cup competition. They also have a higher place finish in the domestic league.
A statement from Drogheda United reads:
“To our supporters, players, staff, volunteers, and the entire Drogheda community,
It is with great heartbreak and disbelief that we inform you we have lost our appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. We strongly disagree with this decision, and had hoped and believed that the principles of fairness and common sense would prevail.
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“After months of engagement, constructive dialogue, countless hours of legal preparation, and multiple proposals based on frameworks that have been accepted in the past, we have come up short. Despite genuine and vocal support across the football world, the ruling did not fall in our favour. We are heartbroken by the outcome.
“We know that this decision will cause hurt and frustration across our entire community. Not just because of the decision itself, but because we know how much this meant to everyone associated with Drogheda United.
“We know how hard this team fought to earn a place in European competition. We know how transformational that opportunity would have been, not just financially, but emotionally for our players, our staff, and our community.
“We disagree with this decision. We believe it is unjust. Rules should protect opportunity, not prevent it. Especially for community-driven clubs like ours, who fight every day to punch above their weight.
“Nevertheless, we accept responsibility. And we’re sorry. But while we are saddened, we are also emboldened.
“We will not let this setback define us. Instead, we will use it as fuel. Our club has never been handed anything, and we’ve earned every inch through grit, resilience, and unity. And we will continue to do so.
“We will push for reform so that no other community club finds itself in this position again. All parties can do better. And we will do our part to make sure we all do.
We will share more in the coming days.
“But for now, our focus turns back to what we can control: the ongoing LOI campaign and our FAI Cup title defence, beginning in July against Crumlin. There is work to be done, on the pitch and off it. We are here. And we are not going anywhere. We will continue to invest in all areas of the club, including plans for a new stadium. We want to be regulars in Europe.
“This club is on the rise. Our league is on the rise. And no single outcome will change that.
“We fight on. Together.”
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) also released a statement explaining why they dismissed the appeal by Drogheda.
Part of it read: “DUFC appealed to CAS against the decision by Uefa’s Club Financial Control Body on 5 June 2025 to remove the club from the upcoming Conference League, stating that it did not comply with the multi-club ownership criteria in Uefa’s Conference League Regulations (Art.5.01) as of the assessment date of 1 March 2025.
“DUFC requested that CAS annul the decision and be included in the draw for the second qualifying round on 17 June 2025. Both DUFC and Silkeborg IF, who also qualified for the competition, are owned by Trivela Group, a US-based investment entity.
“On 10 June 2025, the CAS Court Office registered the statement of appeal and initiated an arbitration procedure. An arbitral Panel was appointed, composed of Mr Kwadjo Adjepong (UK), President, Prof. Philippe Sands (UK/France) and Fabio Iudica (Italy).
“A virtual hearing took place on 16 June 2025, after which the CAS Panel issued an Operative Decision by majority to dismiss the appeal.
“The Panel considered the evidence and found that, despite a change of assessment date from 3 June 2025 to 1 March 2025, such change was properly communicated by Uefa and that DUFC knew or ought to have known about this change.
“Furthermore, the majority of the Panel also rejected DUFC’s submissions on alleged unequal treatment by Uefa.
“This was an expedited procedure, heard and rendered by CAS in five business days to comply with the Uefa Conference League draw.
“If Parties do not request confidentiality, a full CAS Award with grounds will be published in the coming weeks.”
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Drogheda United expelled from Uefa Conference League after losing appeal
Updated at 19.14
DROGHEDA UNITED HAVE been expelled from the Uefa Conference League after losing an appeal with the Court for Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
The League of Ireland club submitted an appeal after Uefa notified them that they face expulsion from this season’s Uefa Conference League regarding multi-club ownership for the FAI Cup champions.
Along with missing out on European action, Drogheda will also be denied over €500,000 in prize money, due to multi-club ownership rules.
They are owned by American investors Trivela Group and qualified for the Conference League after winning last season’s FAI Cup.
However, Danish side Silkeborg IF are also part of Trivela’s structure and won their domestic cup competition. They also have a higher place finish in the domestic league.
A statement from Drogheda United reads:
“To our supporters, players, staff, volunteers, and the entire Drogheda community,
It is with great heartbreak and disbelief that we inform you we have lost our appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. We strongly disagree with this decision, and had hoped and believed that the principles of fairness and common sense would prevail.
“After months of engagement, constructive dialogue, countless hours of legal preparation, and multiple proposals based on frameworks that have been accepted in the past, we have come up short. Despite genuine and vocal support across the football world, the ruling did not fall in our favour. We are heartbroken by the outcome.
“We know that this decision will cause hurt and frustration across our entire community. Not just because of the decision itself, but because we know how much this meant to everyone associated with Drogheda United.
“We know how hard this team fought to earn a place in European competition. We know how transformational that opportunity would have been, not just financially, but emotionally for our players, our staff, and our community.
“We disagree with this decision. We believe it is unjust. Rules should protect opportunity, not prevent it. Especially for community-driven clubs like ours, who fight every day to punch above their weight.
“Nevertheless, we accept responsibility. And we’re sorry. But while we are saddened, we are also emboldened.
“We will not let this setback define us. Instead, we will use it as fuel. Our club has never been handed anything, and we’ve earned every inch through grit, resilience, and unity. And we will continue to do so.
“We will push for reform so that no other community club finds itself in this position again. All parties can do better. And we will do our part to make sure we all do.
We will share more in the coming days.
“But for now, our focus turns back to what we can control: the ongoing LOI campaign and our FAI Cup title defence, beginning in July against Crumlin. There is work to be done, on the pitch and off it. We are here. And we are not going anywhere. We will continue to invest in all areas of the club, including plans for a new stadium. We want to be regulars in Europe.
“This club is on the rise. Our league is on the rise. And no single outcome will change that.
“We fight on. Together.”
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) also released a statement explaining why they dismissed the appeal by Drogheda.
Part of it read: “DUFC appealed to CAS against the decision by Uefa’s Club Financial Control Body on 5 June 2025 to remove the club from the upcoming Conference League, stating that it did not comply with the multi-club ownership criteria in Uefa’s Conference League Regulations (Art.5.01) as of the assessment date of 1 March 2025.
“DUFC requested that CAS annul the decision and be included in the draw for the second qualifying round on 17 June 2025. Both DUFC and Silkeborg IF, who also qualified for the competition, are owned by Trivela Group, a US-based investment entity.
“On 10 June 2025, the CAS Court Office registered the statement of appeal and initiated an arbitration procedure. An arbitral Panel was appointed, composed of Mr Kwadjo Adjepong (UK), President, Prof. Philippe Sands (UK/France) and Fabio Iudica (Italy).
“A virtual hearing took place on 16 June 2025, after which the CAS Panel issued an Operative Decision by majority to dismiss the appeal.
“The Panel considered the evidence and found that, despite a change of assessment date from 3 June 2025 to 1 March 2025, such change was properly communicated by Uefa and that DUFC knew or ought to have known about this change.
“Furthermore, the majority of the Panel also rejected DUFC’s submissions on alleged unequal treatment by Uefa.
“This was an expedited procedure, heard and rendered by CAS in five business days to comply with the Uefa Conference League draw.
“If Parties do not request confidentiality, a full CAS Award with grounds will be published in the coming weeks.”
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Drogheda United LOI Soccer Verdict