[Albion] Will Brighton be allowed to play in Europe?

[ukpolska]

If Brighton qualifies for Europe, I wonder if they will have a problem with Tony Bloom having interests in Brighton and Royale Union Saint-Gilloise, seeing as they are both likely to qualify?
Because as I am reading it (and I may be wrong), a person cannot hold interests in two clubs, both playing in UEFA club competitions.

It may make some sense in what De Zerbi said at the weekend as well:
Asked what European qualification could mean for his club's stature, the 43-year-old said on Saturday: "You have to ask this question of Tony [Bloom]. For sure we would like to try to arrive in the Europa League, but for the level of the club, it is not my problem.

"I don't know the politics of the club. I can't decide, no? I can decide the way in terms of quality of play, in terms of style of play, yes, the first 11, but the politics of the club, no."

5.01
To ensure the integrity of the UEFA club competitions (i.e. UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and UEFA Europa Conference League), the following criteria apply:

1. No club participating in a UEFA club competition may, either directly or indirectly:
   1. hold or deal in the securities or shares of any other club participating in a UEFA club competition;
   2. be a member of any other club participating in a UEFA club competition;
   3. be involved in any capacity whatsoever in the management, administration and/or sporting performance of any other club participating in a UEFA club competition; or
   4. have any power whatsoever in the management, administration and/or sporting performance of any other club participating in a UEFA club competition.
2. No one may simultaneously be involved, either directly or indirectly, in any capacity whatsoever in the management, administration and/or sporting performance of more than one club participating in a UEFA club competition.
3. No individual or legal entity may have control or influence over more than one club participating in a UEFA club competition, such control or influence being defined in this context as:
   1. holding a majority of the shareholders’ voting rights;
   2. having the right to appoint or remove a majority of the members of the administrative, management or supervisory body of the club;
   3. being a shareholder and alone controlling a majority of the shareholders’ voting rights pursuant to an agreement entered into with other shareholders of the club; or
   4. being able to exercise by any means a decisive influence in the decision-making of the club.

5.02
If two or more clubs fail to meet the criteria aimed at ensuring the integrity of the competition, only one of them may be admitted to a UEFA club competition, in accordance with the following criteria (applicable in descending order):

1. the club which qualifies on sporting merit for the most prestigious UEFA club competition (i.e., in descending order: UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League or UEFA Europa Conference League);
2. the club which was ranked highest in the domestic championship giving access to the relevant UEFA club competition;
3. the club whose association is ranked highest in the access list (see Annex A).

https://documents.uefa.com/r/Regulations-of-the-UEFA-Europa-League-2022/23/Article-5-Integrity-of-the-competition/multi-club-ownership-Online

 

[Frankie]

That's torn it.

 

[Mustafa II]

Interesting...

Although the question should really be "Will USG be allowed to play in Europe?"

 

[Joey Jo Jo Jr. Shabadoo]

It wasn't an issue for Red Bull Salzburg and Red Bull Leipzig. Both ultimately owned by the Red Bull group. They have even played against each other in European competition. They have separate boards and chairman etc. Tony Bloom doesn't sit as chairman of RUSG, that job belongs to Alex Muzio so there shouldn't be any issue for us and RUSG to both be in European competition at the same time.

 

[AmexRuislip]

If Brighton qualifies for Europe, I wonder if they will have a problem with Tony Bloom having interests in Brighton and Royale Union Saint-Gilloise, seeing as they are both likely to qualify?
Because as I am reading it (and I may be wrong), a person cannot hold interests in two clubs, both playing in UEFA club competitions.

5.01
To ensure the integrity of the UEFA club competitions (i.e. UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and UEFA Europa Conference League), the following criteria apply:

1. No club participating in a UEFA club competition may, either directly or indirectly:
   1. hold or deal in the securities or shares of any other club participating in a UEFA club competition;
   2. be a member of any other club participating in a UEFA club competition;
   3. be involved in any capacity whatsoever in the management, administration and/or sporting performance of any other club participating in a UEFA club competition; or
   4. have any power whatsoever in the management, administration and/or sporting performance of any other club participating in a UEFA club competition.
2. No one may simultaneously be involved, either directly or indirectly, in any capacity whatsoever in the management, administration and/or sporting performance of more than one club participating in a UEFA club competition.
3. No individual or legal entity may have control or influence over more than one club participating in a UEFA club competition, such control or influence being defined in this context as:
   1. holding a majority of the shareholders’ voting rights;
   2. having the right to appoint or remove a majority of the members of the administrative, management or supervisory body of the club;
   3. being a shareholder and alone controlling a majority of the shareholders’ voting rights pursuant to an agreement entered into with other shareholders of the club; or
   4. being able to exercise by any means a decisive influence in the decision-making of the club.

5.02
If two or more clubs fail to meet the criteria aimed at ensuring the integrity of the competition, only one of them may be admitted to a UEFA club competition, in accordance with the following criteria (applicable in descending order):

1. the club which qualifies on sporting merit for the most prestigious UEFA club competition (i.e., in descending order: UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League or UEFA Europa Conference League);
2. the club which was ranked highest in the domestic championship giving access to the relevant UEFA club competition;
3. the club whose association is ranked highest in the access list (see Annex A).

https://documents.uefa.com/r/Regulations-of-the-UEFA-Europa-League-2022/23/Article-5-Integrity-of-the-competition/multi-club-ownership-Online

I think this minor detail would've been looked at already by now, given who's in charge and how meticulous they both are.

 

[ukpolska]

It wasn't an issue for Red Bull Salzburg and Red Bull Leipzig. Both ultimately owned by the Red Bull group. They have even played against each other in European competition. They have separate boards and chairman etc. Tony Bloom doesn't sit as chairman of RUSG, that job belongs to Alex Muzio so there shouldn't be any issue for us and RUSG to both be in European competition at the same time.

Good point, and I hope you are right.

 

[Nobby Cybergoat]

Yes, if there were any conflict, sadly USG would be the ones to miss out. More likely TB would look to make a sale of the club and maybe move the project elsewhere.

 

[PILTDOWN MAN]

He maybe the biggest investor but does he actually hold the shares? Like Star Lizard he isn't listed as a director.

 

[Baldrick]

We are already playing in Europe. Is the UK not in Europe?

The EU is just a collection of EU countries wanting political and economic integration with a central socialist leaning (republican type) government in Brussels. Irrespective of whether you are pro Brexit or Remain, the UK is still in Europe.

 

[ukpolska]

We are already playing in Europe. Is the UK not in Europe?

The EU is just a collection of EU countries wanting political and economic integration with a central socialist leaning (republican type) government in Brussels. Irrespective of whether you are pro Brexit or Remain, the UK is still in Europe.

OMG there is always one lol You perfectly well knew what it meant, but you had to try and be smart.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

It wasn't an issue for Red Bull Salzburg and Red Bull Leipzig. Both ultimately owned by the Red Bull group. They have even played against each other in European competition. They have separate boards and chairman etc. Tony Bloom doesn't sit as chairman of RUSG, that job belongs to Alex Muzio so there shouldn't be any issue for us and RUSG to both be in European competition at the same time.

Correct. The RB Leipzig board is independent of Red Bull GmbH, this is a requirement of their Bundesliga license.

 

[Bob!]

We are already playing in Europe. Is the UK not in Europe?

The EU is just a collection of EU countries wanting political and economic integration with a central socialist leaning (republican type) government in Brussels. Irrespective of whether you are pro Brexit or Remain, the UK is still in Europe.

This is about UEFA rules.
Not EU rules.

 

[ukpolska]

Correct. The RB Leipzig board is independent of Red Bull GmbH, this is a requirement of their Bundesliga license.

Isn't one of them just sponsored by Red Bull and the other one owned?

 

[Dave the OAP]

Isn’t City and PSG owned by the same group?

 

[Joey Jo Jo Jr. Shabadoo]

Isn't one of them just sponsored by Red Bull and the other one owned?

No, as per my previous post they are both owned by Red Bull GmbH, but have separate boards and chairman etc.

In advance of the 2017-18 season UEFA investigated the structure of both clubs when Leipzig and Salzburg both qualified for the Champions League and were satisfied that despite a close sporting relationship both clubs were suitably independent from Red Bull, and sufficiently distinct from one another so both were allowed to play in that seasons Champions League.

The same should apply to us and RUSG if we ever both qualify for Europe as Tony Bloom doesn't sit on the board if USG even though he is majority shareholder.

 

[PILTDOWN MAN]

No, as per my previous post they are both owned by Red Bull GmbH, but have separate boards and chairman etc.

In advance of the 2017-18 season UEFA investigated the structure of both clubs when Leipzig and Salzburg both qualified for the Champions League and were satisfied that despite a close sporting relationship both clubs were suitably independent from Red Bull, and sufficiently distinct from one another so both were allowed to play in that seasons Champions League.

The same should apply to us and RUSG if we ever both qualify for Europe as Tony Bloom doesn't sit on the board if USG even though he is majority shareholder.

I'm sure his share ownership can be "sorted" if need be, if not already.

 

[PILTDOWN MAN]

https://bizzy.org/en/be/0417144936/royale-union-saint-gilloise

A little bit more info here. Tony can gift his shares to his son. He has no controlling interest in the management.

 

[macbeth]

It wasn't an issue for Red Bull Salzburg and Red Bull Leipzig. Both ultimately owned by the Red Bull group. They have even played against each other in European competition. They have separate boards and chairman etc. Tony Bloom doesn't sit as chairman of RUSG, that job belongs to Alex Muzio so there shouldn't be any issue for us and RUSG to both be in European competition at the same time.

forgive my ignorance on this but don't German clubs have to have majority fan ownership or something? which is why Leipzig's structure may not have fallen foul of that rule

 

[halbpro]

Isn’t City and PSG owned by the same group?

No, City is owned by City Football Group and ultimately Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who's part of the Abu Dhabi and Dubai royal families (as well as being deputy PM of the UAE). PSG is owned by Qatar Sports Investment, which is basically the Qatari state itself (notably the finance ministry and national olympic committee).

Edit: Extra context

City Football Group could potentially run into issues down the line as they also own Girona and Troyes who play in La Liga and Ligue 1 respectively. However, as @Joey Jo Jo Jr. Shabadoo notes above in relation to Salzburg and Leipzig it would likely be fine, particularly as City Football Group is a decent sized organisation at this point

 

[Joey Jo Jo Jr. Shabadoo]

forgive my ignorance on this but don't German clubs have to have majority fan ownership or something? which is why Leipzig's structure may not have fallen foul of that rule

I believe there has been some controversy around the 50+1 rule and RB Leipzig. Although it's technically possible to become a member of the club and therefore have voting rights, the club retain the right to reject any membership application without giving a reason, and their membership fee's are so high it rules out most normal fans from becoming members anyway.