Nottingham Forest's owner, Evangelos Marinakis, may pose a challenge if the team qualifies for European competitions due to UEFA's strict multi-club ownership rules. These regulations could lead to potential demotions or exclusions from tournaments.
Key points
Nottingham Forest owner is Evangelos Marinakis
UEFA has strict multi-club ownership rules
Teams can be demoted or excluded from competitions
Crystal Palace faced demotion due to these rules
Mentioned in this story
Evangelos Marinakis
Nottingham ForestCrystal PalaceEuropa LeagueConference League
Nottingham Forest owner, Evangelos Marinakis, on the pitch before the Premier League match against Crystal Palace at the City Ground
[Getty Images]
As the battle for places in Europe hots up in the Premier League, the race to shuffle papers to satisfy Uefa's bureaucrats has been just as intense.
This is because European football's governing body has strict multi-club ownership (MCO) rules.
Those rules could cause a team to be demoted from one competition to another, like Crystal Palace were from the Europa League to the Conference League last season, or miss out on Europe altogether.
Last year, Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis placed the club into a blind trust in case they qualified for the Champions League.
That could have presented a conflict with his other club, Olympiakos.
With Forest in the semi-finals of the Europa League, once again they have a chance of being in the Champions League. And Olympiakos look like being in it too.
In a blind trust, relevant parties transfer their shares to independent trustees, whereby all the decision-making of the club will rest solely under the control of the third party.
The club are controlled through a company called NF Football Investments.
Until 28 February, Marinakis was the only person with significant control.
He was removed and it was passed to another company, Pittville Four Limited, controlled by Janet Lucy Gibson, Henry Peter Hickman and Eleanor Catherine Walsh.
Those three independent trustees were also added to the football club's board, replacing Mighael Dugher, Simon Forster and Jonathan Owen.
Forest's problem could be that the new additions had to pass the Premier League's owners and directors test.
It was not until 17 April that Companies House was updated.
The Premier League's register of directors, last updated on 2 April, still lists Marinakis, Dugher, Forster and Owen.
Q&A
What are UEFA's multi-club ownership rules?
UEFA's multi-club ownership rules prevent individuals from owning multiple clubs that compete in the same European competition, which can lead to demotions or exclusions.
How could Marinakis affect Nottingham Forest's chances in Europe?
If Nottingham Forest qualifies for European competitions, Marinakis's ownership could lead to complications under UEFA's rules, potentially impacting their participation.
What happened to Crystal Palace regarding UEFA's rules?
Crystal Palace was demoted from the Europa League to the Conference League last season due to issues related to UEFA's multi-club ownership regulations.
Related Articles
Sports
How Dortmund revamped their academy
Borussia Dortmund's academy has successfully integrated young talents like Luca Reggiani and Samuele Inacio into the first team, showcasing a commitment to youth development. Academy director Paul Schaffran emphasizes the hope this brings to the club's future.
Sky Sports··1 min read
Sports
Mbappé no se lo explica
Mbappé no se lo explica: 13 bajas médicas en el Madrid
Marca··1 min read
Sports
Arsenal fans enjoy new Coventry City chant about Spurs
Arsenal fans are enjoying a new Coventry City chant targeting Spurs!
Yahoo Sports··1 min read
Sports
Report – Inter Milan & Turkey Superstar At Risk Of Missing Coppa Italia Final Vs Lazio
Hakan Calhanoglu may miss the Coppa Italia final against Lazio due to injury.
Yahoo Sports··1 min read
NFL
Breaking down the Steelers 2026 draft class: Best picks, sleepers, overall assessment
Analyzing the Steelers' 2026 draft class: Best picks and sleepers
Yahoo Sports··1 min read
Cricket·Preview
IPL Match Today, PBKS vs RR: Predicted playing XI, head-to-head, pitch report, Punjab weather update
Get ready for PBKS vs RR in today's IPL match! Key players and pitch report inside.