Source: 90 mins RB Leipzig Celebrations on Hold as They Await UEFA Ruling on Champions League Qualification German side RB Leipzig will have to wait until June before they learn whether or not they will be allowed to play in next season's Champions League competition. Saturday's 4-0 win over Freiburg means that Ralph Hasenh*ttl's side are guaranteed a place in the Bundesliga top four and have, in theory, qualified for European football's elite competition. However, the BBC report that their eligibility for the Champions League remains uncertain and they could yet be thrown out of the competition as UEFA rules stipulate that only one team owned by the same organisation is allowed to play in European club tournaments. Founded in 2009 by energy drink company Red Bull, Leipzig in theory are partnered with Austrian side Red Bull Salzburg, who are also owned by the same company. With Salzburg some 15 points clear the top of the Austrian League, it appears likely that they will also secure qualification for the Champions League next season as well. The situation could well mean that one team will be banned from playing in the competition and UEFA are set to make a ruling on the matter in June, meaning that both sides are facing a long wait to discover their fate. Current rules mean that whichever team is thrown out of the tournament would not even have the comfort of playing in the Europa League either, but speaking about the scenario back in February, Leipzig's CEO, Oliver Mintzlaff, is confident that his side will be playing Champions League football in September. He said, as quoted by the Sun: “We are not nervous at RB Leipzig and also the UEFA signals don’t exit. If we qualify there is no reason why we should doubt to play in Europe next season.” http://www.90min.com/posts/4878861-...on-champions-league-qualification?a_aid=35507 ---------------------------------------------------------- I'm not sure this situation was contemplated ... being barred from the Champions League seems a bit unfair to me, when they've complied with everything ON the pitch. RB Leipzig : 2009: Founded ✅ 2010: Promoted ✅ 2013: Promoted ✅ 2014: Promoted ✅ 2016: Promoted ✅ 2017: Qualify CL ✅ History makers!
For history read money. This is what happens when multi billion international companies buy football clubs, next they'll try twisting UEFA's arm with sponsorship deals. It's all about the integrity of the competition, what happens if these clubs get drawn together etc, especially in the groups. UEFA have always been very clear on the subject, and there's little chance they will be budged. If both clubs qualify under the same ownership it won't matter what third party or temporary deals they make over ownership, it will be seen as cheating. You'd think as a Watford fan I might be sympathetic because of our ties with Udinese but I'm not, I'd honestly expect to have to sit out.
Could this happen to us if we and Udinese were ever to qualify for the champions league in the same season, or are we actually classed as separately owned teams, despite being owned by two members of the same family?
I read somewhere that there are already rules in place for such an eventuality. The first to qualify gets the place. I imagine the delay in the decision is all about whether the structure of ownership really does provide a conflict of interest.
I think that this possible scenario was one reason why our club's ownership formally passed from father to son ...
I'm not convinced because of the shared resources (primarily scouting), it's still a bit of a fix in my eyes and probably the media's too. When comes the time (and it will) I actually expect us to be totally independent.
What happens about clubs that share resources despite no formal ownership - say if Granada this season qualified despite us obviously still having an interest in them despite the Pozzos officially selling up, or clubs that have official partnerships with each other like Tottenham and Swindon or Chelsea and Vitesse. Where do you draw the line? I'm sure Red Bull are aware of the rule and have fantastic lawyers on the case to make sure both Salzburg and Leipzig both qualify for the CL, and if they can't have both will make sure Salzburg sit it out.
I agree the line has to be drawn but then there are things like exclusivity if say an outside club wasn't getting a look in on transfers that went for less than they offered. The Pozzo scouting network in world renowned so they can't just say "nothing to do with us". Obviously I wouldn't expect us to be treated less fairly than Spurs or Chelsea but honestly the likelihood of Vitesse and Swindon qualifying for European competition are slim. The two RB clubs however I will be seething about if they both get accepted and I do know Leipzig are despised by every other Bundesliga club's fans.
Really? I always remember them as being a bit rubbish. However my position is they same, if Chelsea and Vitesse both qualified for the same comp I'd expect one to drop out. Otherwise what's the point of having rules that are just to be abused?
BBC Sport Champions League: RB Leipzig and Red Bull Salzburg both allowed to compete RB Leipzig and Red Bull Salzburg can both play in the Champions League next season, Uefa has confirmed. Both clubs are associated with the energy-drink maker Red Bull and Uefa prohibits clubs with strong links from playing in Europe in the same season. But Uefa ruled "no individual or legal entity had a decisive influence over more than one club". Bundesliga runners-up RB Leipzig and Austrian champions Salzburg both qualified for the 2017-18 competition. Full article: http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/40348340
Fine, if one day both us and Udinese qualify for Europe then I don't think uefa would have a leg to stand on if they tried to prevent either of us from entering.
