(Credit: Imago)

Jacob Raw

Mon 30 March 2026 12:10, UK

The Friedkin Group may have no control over Everton‘s European fate if their sister club Roma finish above them in the league standings this season.

That’s because if the Toffees and Roma end up qualifying for the Champions League competition, UEFA rules would prioritise which of the two clubs would finish in a higher spot out of their respective league.

For example, if the Blues finished the season by qualifying for the Europa Conference League alongside Roma, UEFA rules would have to come into play.

According to the Liverpool Echo, “Everton would lose out” in almost every scenario, and the Friedkin Group would be able to do nothing about it.

Everton are currently eighth in the Premier League, but the season might not end with sunshine and rainbows like everyone hopes it will.

Have TFG missed a trick with the blind trust solution?

The Friedkin Group missed UEFA’s deadline for a blind trust agreement earlier this month, with the owners confident of a “structural solution” that would allow both Everton and Roma to compete in the same competition.

It is not known what the solution is as of yet, but if Roma and Everton were to finish in the same spots they are in now, they would both qualify for the Conference League, depending on the FA Cup and European success of other English clubs this campaign.

The blind trust solution has been previously used by owners to prevent either of their owned clubs from being relegated, but TFG have deliberately chosen against having it in place for next season. That said, it’s understood that they are not trying to put Everton at a disadvantage here.

Dan Friedkin would have had to transfer assets and stocks into the blind trust, where the trustee can buy or sell the assets without having to consult the owner.

Everton will be hoping that they avoid the worst possible scenario, but the Friedkin Group’s unknown solution to combat UEFA rules still looks risky.

Would David Moyes walk if Everton were kicked out of Europe?

The ultimate goal for the Blues is to become regular challenger in Europe, and under David Moyes, that looks possible.

Rumours are spreading that the Toffees are looking at handing the head coach a new and improved contract in the summer, which suggests big ambitions are coming.

Moyes will be fully aware of the UEFA complications with Roma, but will know that he can’t fixate on what might happen, with the qualification of his own team not certain.

Even if Everton did suffer European heartbreak this year, Moyes is the type of character to roll his sleeves up and go again.

The Toffees are in good hands, and European football will most likely come to Hill Dickinson one way or another.