UEFA will loosen the regulations pertaining to club multi-ownership in spite of the criticism
The multi-club ownership arrangement is still a source of debate, but UEFA seems prepared to soften its position. The Guardian claims that if two teams under the same ownership qualify for European competitions, European football’s governing body intends to give clubs more time to adhere to ownership rules. Clubs would have more time to reorganize or put one entity in a temporary trust if the present deadline of March 1 were extended to June.
This ruling comes after Crystal Palace’s expulsion from the Europa Conference League last summer due to ownership ties to Olympique Lyonnais caused a stir. The sentence was viewed by many in the football community as being unduly strict and disconnected from the realities of sport. UEFA intends to steer clear of such conflicts in the future by promoting flexibility.
Critics, however, worry that the action may exacerbate football’s economic disparities and muddy moral boundaries. The sport may “turn into a competition of holding companies,” according to experts like Jean-Baptiste Guégan, whose tactics benefit investors more than supporters.
Others draw attention to the dangers of conflicts of interest and political influence, particularly as foreign investment increases. Even while UEFA wants to adjust to the economics of contemporary football, this change runs the risk of making the divide between the top players and the rest of the sport even more pronounced.
