DROGHEDA UNITED are going to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in a bid to play European football this season.
A problem has arisen because Drogheda and Silkeborg IF have both qualified for the Europa Conference League.
Uefa rules do not allow clubs with the same owner to compete in the same competition for sporting integrity reasons.
The Trivela Group bought Drogheda before the start of last season and, since then, took a 80 percent stake in the Norwegian outfit.
Similar situations have arisen in the past with the ownership of one club transferred to a third party in order to get around it.
But, for now, despite its efforts to reach a compromise with Uefa’s Club FInancial Control Body, the Boynesiders face missing out on the reward for winning the FAI Cup final in November.
A Drogheda statement said: “The club can confirm that it has been notified by UEFA that we are facing expulsion from the UEFA Conference League due to Drogheda United and Silkeborg IF having both qualified for the same competition.
“This is despite significant efforts by the club to work constructively with UEFA to make necessary ownership and governance changes to allow both to compete over the past several months.
“We are devastated by this potential development and believe it would be both harsh and unfair, given the way brand new rule changes this year have been, in our view, inconsistently communicated and enforced across various clubs.
“We are now appealing the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
“Given we are now in the midst of an ongoing legal proceeding, and out of respect for that process, UEFA, the CFCB, and the overall aim of sporting integrity, there are limits to what we are able to share at this time.
“What we can say is this: we are—even at this late hour—fighting to do anything and everything we can to secure our players’, supporters’, and community’s place in Europe.
“We have been in active dialogue with UEFA for months and have put forward a share disposition, trust arrangements, and various other undertakings consistent with recent CFCB precedent, only to have all of those efforts rebuffed.
“Nevertheless, we look forward to the opportunity to be heard at CAS and thank you in advance for your support. “
Drogheda last competed in Europe in 2013 and qualified against the odds by defeating favourites Derry City a week before Kevin Doherty’s side needed a play-off to safeguard their top-flight status.
They currently lie second in the table, six points behind leaders Shamrock Rovers.
