Can Nottingham Forest qualify for the Champions League?

One of the biggest surprises of the English Premier League season so far has been Nottingham Forest. After battling relegation last season, the team is currently in the top four after 21 matches, having held Liverpool to a won and draw. But can Forest secure a return to the Champions League for the first time since 1980?

Conditions for Champions League participation

Naturally, one of the most important factors is sporting performance, and for Forest to qualify for the elite club tournament, they need to finish in the top four of the Premier League.

However, there are several non-sporting factors at play, one of which is the rule that prevents two clubs under the same ownership from participating in the same European competition. This puts Nottingham Forest in a potentially precarious position.

Evangelos Marinakis – owner of Olympiacos and Nottingham Forest

A key example of this rule is Forest's owner, Evangelos Marinakis, who purchased a majority stake in Olympiacos in 2010 (he has also served as a municipal councilor in Piraeus since 2014) and bought into Nottingham Forest seven years later.

It is no secret that Olympiacos is a major force in Greek football, and after 18 rounds of the Greek Super League, the reigning Conference League winners are at the top of the table. If they win the league, they will secure a spot in the second qualifying round of the Champions League.

How does UEFA regulate ownership of multiple clubs?

UEFA's regulations are clear and strict: no physical or legal entity can have control or influence over more than one club participating in UEFA club competitions.

This rule applies not only to ownership but also to management involvement, administrative powers, and similar factors.

Have there been precedents in European football, and how were they resolved?

Yes, there have been precedents, including in the current season. As is well known, Manchester City and Girona share owners under the City Football Group, while Manchester United and Nice are both owned by INEOS.

UEFA then allowed them to participate in European cups, but banned each twosome from making transfers between them in any way until September 2025.

A notable example is RB Leipzig and Red Bull Salzburg, both owned by the Red Bull consortium. In 2017, when Leipzig was preparing for its debut in the Champions League, they were able to prove that "no physical or legal entity had decisive influence over more than one club," and both clubs were allowed to compete in the Champions League.

What happens if this criterion is violated?

The Champions League regulations clearly explain the consequences. Several criteria are applied in order of priority:

1. The club with the highest sporting qualification for the most prestigious UEFA competition (in descending order: UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, or UEFA Conference League);
2. The club finishing highest in its domestic league that qualifies for the corresponding UEFA competition;
3. The club whose association ranks highest in the UEFA coefficient table.

These criteria would not apply if, for example, Nottingham Forest qualifies for the Champions League while Olympiacos qualifies for the Europa League.

If one of the clubs is not allowed to compete in the Champions League, their place will go to the next club in the corresponding league's standings.

What should Marinakis, Nottingham Forest, and Olympiacos do?

It's simple—prove that "no physical or legal entity had decisive influence over more than one club." But first, both clubs must successfully qualify for the Champions League. Since it’s only January, it’s still too early to make any conclusions.