Brighton and Kelty Hearts could both end up in the Conference League, and the reason is Tony Bloom’s ownership structure. BBC Sport’s explainer says Bloom reduced his stake in Union Saint-Gilloise to 29%, just below UEFA’s 30% trigger for a multi-club model, while he bought just 29% of Hearts last year to stay within the regulations.
Bloom's 29% safeguard
The key detail is the size of the stakes. Bloom’s 29% holding in Union Saint-Gilloise sits under the threshold UEFA uses to flag a multi-club setup, and the same number applies to Hearts. BBC Sport’s wording is clear enough on the point: “Bloom reduced his stake in Union Saint-Gilloise to 29% - just below the Uefa 30% threshold as a trigger for a multi-club model.”
That is why both clubs can still be in the picture for Europe in the same campaign. Brighton take on Tromso and Hearts face Rapid Vienna in this month’s qualifying round, so eligibility is only part of the story for both sides.
Why Palace is the contrast
Crystal Palace is the club that shows where UEFA drew a harder line. John Textor’s Eagle Football Holdings held 44.09% of Crystal Palace share capital, and Palace were demoted from the Europa League last season because of a multi-club ownership conflict with Lyon.
Palace’s league finish was 15th in the 2025 Premier League season, while Brighton finished 8th in the 2025 Premier League season. The league positions are not the issue here, but they do show why the ownership ruling has become the focus rather than form or results. Palace also reached 10 points from 6 matches in the 2025 Conference League, which underlines how separate the European punishment was from their on-field work.
The useful line is simple: Bloom kept both stakes at 29%, and that has left Brighton and Hearts eligible under UEFA’s rules while Palace ran into the conflict case that cost them a place in Europe.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →
