Hammers News exclusive: UEFA has clarified the Daniel Kretinsky situation if West Ham draw Sparta Prague in Europe.
As West Ham fans will know, the club’s second biggest stakeholder – Daniel 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. Although our information from several high-profile sources has always maintained he has no desire to.
It has been something of an elephant in the room with West Ham becoming European regulars in the last three years, though.
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.
UEFA clarifies Kretinsky situation
So when Kretinsky saw both his sides – West Ham and Sparta Prague – make it to the Europa League knockout stages on Thursday night, it raised that delicate subject once more.
West Ham are through to the last 16 while Sparta will play Galatasaray in a play-off for the right to join them there.
Should the Czech side win through then they could well be drawn against West Ham causing something of a conflict of interest for Kretinsky. But it would also raise concerns given UEFA’s strict multi-club ownership rules designed to ‘protect the integrity’ of the competition.
Now in a Hammers News exclusive UEFA has clarified the Kretinsky situation if West Ham draw Sparta Prague.
What happens if West Ham draw Sparta Prague?
We reached out to UEFA to ease any concerns among supporters, asking European football’s governing body what would happen should the Hammers be drawn against Sparta Prague in the Europa League knockout stages.
Kretinsky has a 27% stake in West Ham and is believed to have a 40% stake in Sparta.
And a UEFA spokesman has confirmed to Hammers News that a meeting was held in the 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.
MCO rulings were made before campaign began
“With regard to this matter, we kindly refer you to article 5 of the relevant competition regulations,” UEFA told Hammers News.
“We also refer you to the following decisions of the Club Financial Control Body as announced last summer.
“The CFCB First Chamber accepted the admission of Aston Villa FC (ENG) and Vitoria Sport Clube (POR); Brighton & Hove Albion FC (ENG) and Royal Union Saint-Gilloise (BEL); AC Milan (ITA) and Toulouse FC (FRA) to the UEFA club competitions for the 2023/24 season.
“We have no further comment on specific cases.”
Should Kretinsky ever have the overall controlling interest in both clubs – and they both qualify for Europe where there would be the possibility of them meeting – then West Ham and Sparta Prague would be subjected to a ruling by UEFA’s CFCB prior to that season beginning. This season, though, there’s nothing to worry about bar Kretinsky’s own personal feelings should the two clubs meet.
You can see UEFA’s full ruling on MCO on the official website.
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