DAC players, shown here celebrate after scoring a goal, look set to miss out on competing in Europe next season. (source: TASR)
Slovak football club FC DAC 1904 Dunajská Streda has been excluded from next season's UEFA Europa Conference League due to a breach of multi-club ownership (MCO) rules, the European football governing body confirmed on Monday, June 30.
The decision follows an investigation by UEFA’s Club Financial Control Body, which found that DAC and the Hungarian side ETO FC Győr share the same ownership structure, violating UEFA regulations designed to preserve the integrity of European competitions.
Both clubs qualified for the 2025/26 Conference League, but as Hungarian football holds a higher UEFA coefficient than Slovakia, Győr will retain its spot in the competition.
“Based on the documentation submitted by both clubs, the First Chamber of the UEFA Club Financial Control Body concluded that as of March 1, 2025, FC ETO Győr and FC DAC 1904 Dunajská Streda were in breach of Article 5.01 of the UEFA Club Competitions Regulations concerning multi-club ownership,” UEFA stated on its website.
UEFA rules prevent clubs with the same owner from competing in the same tournament, in order to avoid potential conflicts of interest and ensure fair play.
DAC was scheduled to enter the Conference League in the second qualifying round against the winner of the tie between Urartu Yerevan (Armenia) and Neman Grodno (Belarus). With DAC's exclusion, the winner of that match will advance directly to the third qualifying round.
Slovakia will now have three representatives in European competitions next season. Slovan Bratislava will start in the second qualifying round of the Champions League, Spartak Trnava will face Sweden's BK Häcken in the Europa League first qualifying round, and MŠK Žilina will take on Poland’s Raków Częstochowa in the Conference League second qualifying round.
DAC expresses disappointment, insists clubs are legally independent
FC DAC 1904 Dunajská Streda has expressed disappointment over UEFA’s ruling, arguing that it complied fully with the governing body’s requirements to avoid conflicts of interest.
In an official statement released on Monday, June 30, the club stressed that both it and Hungary's ETO FC Győr are legally separate entities with independent structures.
“This decision deeply disappointed us, but we want to assure everyone that our club used all available means to defend its right to participate in European competitions,” the club said.
DAC claims that the ownership of the two clubs is legally distinct — while DAC is owned by a foundation with businessman Oszkár Világi listed as the ultimate beneficiary, ETO is controlled by a separate foundation with Réka Világi, Oszkár’s daughter, as the beneficiary.
“The operations of both clubs are managed by independent legal and economic structures, with strict governance and control mechanisms in place. These were implemented before UEFA’s official deadline of March 1, 2025,” the club added.
According to DAC, after both teams qualified for the same UEFA competition the Slovak side proactively contacted UEFA and submitted all relevant documents to prove the independence of the two organisations.
However, UEFA evaluated the family links between the Világi family members and concluded that these ties could undermine the autonomy of both clubs, leading to DAC's exclusion.
DAC cites UEFA Article 5.02 and prepares an appeal
Article 5.02 of the UEFA regulations says: "Only one club can qualify in case of ownership conflict." In this case, ETO FC Győr was granted the spot due to Hungary’s higher UEFA ranking.
“Although we respect UEFA’s authority, we are convinced the decision is legally and factually incorrect. DAC will file an official appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne,” the club stated.
Despite the setback, DAC says it remains focused on preparing for the new season with “greater determination,” aiming to continue building a strong club and representing its community with pride.
