Roma and Everton's European Party Could Get Crashed by Ownership Rules
Roma and Everton risk a European qualification clash due to shared majority owner Dan Friedkin, with UEFA rules barring clubs under the same control from the same competition. Both are in striking distance of top spots in Serie A and the Premier League, potentially forcing a demotion like Crystal Palace suffered last year. La Repubblica reports Everton might edge it in a Europa League showdown.
Roma and Everton's European Party Could Get Crashed by Ownership Rules
Picture this: two clubs battling it out in their leagues, dreaming of continental glory, only for a pesky rulebook to throw a spanner in the works. That's the headache facing Roma and Everton, both chasing spots in next season's UEFA competitions. With the same bloke pulling the strings at both, one might have to sit out the dance.
Dan Friedkin, via his Friedkin Group, owns a whopping 95.97% of Roma and 94.1% of Everton. It's all legit business, but UEFA doesn't mess around when it comes to multi-club ownership. No one person or entity can have 'decisive influence' over more than one club in their tournaments. Simple as that.
Standings Drama: Both Sides in the Hunt
Roma are lurking in sixth in Serie A, which bags them a Europa League spot right now. But they're sniffing around for more – just three points off fourth-placed Como and a Champions League dream. Meanwhile, over in the Premier League, Everton sit eighth, level with seventh-placed Brentford and a tantalising three points from the top-five scrap, where UCL places beckon thanks to England's extra allocation.
It's tight as a drum at both ends of Europe. Roma could dodge the Conference League if they climb higher, while Everton fancy a return to the big lights after years in the wilderness. But if they land in the same comp – be it Champions League, Europa League, or Conference League – cue the fireworks.
As reported by Peter Young at Football Italia and James Roberts at FourFourTwo, Italian rag La Repubblica has the inside track. Both clubs are pushing hard, with Roma celebrating goals from the likes of Robinio Vaz and skipper Lorenzo Pellegrini in recent romps, and Everton boss David Moyes grinning after digs like their win over Chelsea.
UEFA's Iron Fist: Rules and Relegations
UEFA's multi-club ownership regs are no joke. Last summer's Crystal Palace saga was a right old mess. The Eagles nabbed Europa League via the FA Cup, but their partial owner John Textor also runs Lyon, who were already in. Palace got booted down to the Conference League, handing Nottingham Forest a promotion to Europe. Ouch.
Same vibes here. If Roma and Everton qualify for the same tier, UEFA picks the higher-finishing side in its domestic league. Tie? Then it's the federation's UEFA access list ranking – England's probably edges Italy's. La Repubblica whispers that if it's Europa League for both, Everton might hold the spot. But don't quote me on that yet.
The clock's ticking too. Clubs had until 1 March to shuffle boards or sell stakes. No word from Friedkin Group on ditching control anywhere. UEFA's watching like a hawk, and with multi-club models exploding (think City Football Group, Red Bull), these headaches are only ramping up.
What Happens Next? Demotion or Disaster?
Best case? One sneaks Champions League, the other drops to Europa or below – no clash. Worst? Both hit the same level, and someone's demoted or turfed out entirely. Imagine the fans' rage: Giallorossi ultras chucking flares, Goodison Park howling. Friedkin might have to pick a favourite, or sell up quick.
It's a modern football farce, innit? Owners hoarding clubs like Pokémon cards, but UEFA playing ref. Roma and Everton fans, crack on with the wins, but maybe whisper a prayer they don't peak together. As Young and Roberts note, this saga's brewing, and it could rival Palace's summer meltdown for drama.
For now, both squads graft on. Roma eye that top-four push, Everton chase the top five. But in the pub, we're already arguing: who gets the boot? Fancy a pint on it?