West Ham fans don’t hear much from secretive co-owner Daniel Kretinsky but they may if fate conspires at UEFA’s headquarters.
There has been an elephant in the room with West Ham becoming European regulars – and of course champions – over the last three years.
And it centres around West Ham’s Czech billionaire co-owner Daniel Kretinsky.
As most Hammers fans will know, the club’s second biggest stakeholder Kretinsky also owns Czech club Sparta Prague.
Multi-club ownership has always been cited as a major sticking point for a full Kretinsky takeover at West Ham should the Czech billionaire ever wish to launch one.
Kretinsky dilemma could soon become West Ham’s
And according to board insider Sean Whetstone this week – unhappy Kretinsky may have to if he is to run the club how he wishes.
As highlighted by Hammers News previously, should Kretinsky complete a full takeover then West Ham and Sparta Prague could be banned from playing in the same UEFA competition under his ownership.
Now Kretinsky has been handed a major West Ham dilemma after UEFA clearance on the matter.
Because West Ham could now face Sparta Prague in the Europa League last 16 after they beat Galatasaray 6-4 on aggregate in the play-off round.
Sparta are now one of only seven teams West Ham can face when the draw is made on Friday at UEFA’s HQ in Nyon.
Kretinsky conflict of interest now real possibility
That causes more than a conflict of interest for Kretinsky.
The Czech Sphinx realised a dream by owning his boyhood club. And Kretinsky loves Sparta Prague so much he admitted he had “a huge mental and moral reservation” about attending West Ham’s Europa Conference League final at the home of their bitter rivals Slavia Prague.
UEFA’s strict multi-club ownership rules designed to ‘protect the integrity’ of the competition.
But UEFA exclusively confirmed to Hammers News in December that a meeting was held last summer to discuss and rule on any potential MCO rule breaches ahead of the European competitions getting underway.
There were several cases to consider but West Ham and Sparta’s did not require discussion, meaning there is no jeopardy in that regard for either club.
UEFA set to tighten MCO rules
But while West Ham drawing Sparta would be a personal dilemma for Kretinsky, it could be very different next season.
It was recently revealed by Sky Sports reporter Kaveh Solhekol that UEFA will implement new tougher multi-club ownership rules at the end of the season in light of Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s INEOS being involved with both Man United and Nice.
And that would also impact West Ham and co-owner Kretinsky, who has a vote on all matters at both the Hammers and Sparta.
That would, of course, first require West Ham to qualify for Europe for it to be an issue.
But should the rules become tighter as expected, then it certainly would be in the future with Sparta – on course for the Czech title – being regulars in UEFA competitions.
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