Romanov's extra ownership could cost him millions

With the Scottish Football Association's finding that Vladimir Romanov runs Heart of Midlothian, the owner could be in for millions of losses as his other clubs could suffer.

Lithuanian champions FB Kaunas and Belarus MTZ-RIPO will be banned from Europe if Hearts qualify for next season's UEFA Cup. They are supervised by Romanov.

The SFA's ruling has captured UEFA's attention because of rules on two clubs with the same ownership. Romanov owns 82 percent of Hearts but still overtly denies any ownership or influence over his other clubs.

"UEFA is aware of the situation regarding Hearts and Romanov," said a spokesman at UEFA's headquarters in Switzerland. "If two or more clubs in the same ownership qualify for the same competition then one or more of them has to be removed as only one of the owner's clubs can take part."

The hearing found that Romanov was in control at Hearts, and was subject to SFA rules. Romanov then was fined GBP 10,000 for remarks he made on the club's website suggesting anti-Hearts bias by referees. Romanov then appealed.

Romanov had even admitted to picking the team in the past, but still Hearts argued that he had no official role at the club. But the SFA changed its rules to close that loophole and now their finding has led to UEFA's involvement. If Romanov loses his appeal, UEFA will back the SFA's decision and that will trigger the "cross-ownership" rules.

The rule reads that: "No person may simultaneously be involved, either directly or indirectly, in any capacity whatsoever in the management, administration and/or sporting performance of more than one club participating in the same UEFA club competition. In the case of two or more clubs under common control, only one may participate in the same UEFA club competition."

The rules add that the club with the highest Uefa club rating calculated over the past five seasons is admitted while the others are kept out. Hearts are presently ranked 107th in the club coefficient rankings, while neither Kaunas nor MTZ-RIPO is in the top 200.

Hearts must finish second or third in the SPL – the club is fifth right now – or go through the Intertoto Cup to qualify for the UEFA Cup. FB Kaunas then would be expelled from next year's UEFA Cup if the club fails to make the group stages of the Champions League.

If both Minsk and Kaunas were banned, each lost match would cost the clubs an estimated GBP 500,000.

While Romanov's people try to claim he only sponsors Kaunas and MTZ-RIPO, there is much evidence to the contrary.

UEFA.com last year described Romanov as "a successful entrepreneur and owner of Lithuanian bank Ukio Bankas, who took his first step on the football ladder when he bought into local side FBK Kaunas. Belarus's FC MTZ-RIPO Minsk were added to the Romanov stable in 2002, before he shifted his focus to Britain."

MTZ-RIPO's website recently reported that "Vladimir Romanov flew to Minsk. The main reason for his visit is reviewing proposals for soon to be build MTZ-RIPO sport complex."

Maybe the most blatant problems stems from the way Romanov has shuttled players and staff between Kaunas, Minsk and Edinburgh, and his use of the loan system to keep costs off Hearts' books. There are nine FB Kaunas players on loan with Hearts, and many more are expected to follow.

Eduard Malofeev, who was caretaker manager at Hearts until last month, has been appointed head coach at MTZ-RIPO.

Source: euFootball.BIZ © Copyright 2006 - All rights reserved.