UEFA giveth and UEFA taketh away – League of Ireland club prize money and fines for 2024/25 Euro campaign
The four League of Ireland sides who competed in the 2024/25 European season received significant prize money from UEFA. But the governing body for football in Europe also took back some of that money through fines – including the most recent fine issued against Shamrock Rovers by UEFA’s Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body.
Outlined below is the prize money awarded to each of the LOI clubs in Europe (St. Patrick’s Athletic, Shamrock Rovers, Shelbourne and Derry City) and the fines that UEFA hit three of the clubs.
We've also noted the UEFA coefficient points earned by all the clubs.
St. Patrick’s Athletic
Fair play to the Saints who played six games in their European campaign earning €1.275m and did not pick up a single UEFA fine.
The Pat’s prize money broke down as €525k for playing three rounds (3 x €175) beginning in the Conference League second qualifying stage (after receiving a bye as FAI Cup winners), along with €750k received after elimination in the play-off round at the hands of Istanbul Basaksehir (after beating Vaduz and Sabah in the previous rounds).
They earned four UEFA coefficient points (from home and away wins over Sabah, home win against Vaduz along with a draw, plus the home draw with Basakshehir).
Shamrock Rovers
The Hoops will earn over €7m from their Europe through the Champions League and Europa League qualifiers and into the league stage of the Conference League.
Not including any future earnings from their Conference League knockout phase play-off to come in February against Molde nor including the UEFA five / year ten year ranking expected to be an additional €0.75m, their confirmed prize money to date is €6.4m.
For a full breakdown of that prize money see here.
UEFA have issued their fines up to match night five from the Conference League but not match day six when the game in Stamford Bridge was delayed for a while when paper thrown from the away end prevented Christopher Nkunku taking a Chelsea corner for a short time.
The Hoops have picked up fines from three matches since July:
- Shamrock Rovers FC vs. AC Sparta Praha (0:2); 23 July 2024
Invasion of the field of play: €8,000
- Shamrock Rovers FC vs. The New Saints FC (2:1); 7 November 2024
Blocking of public passageways: €8,000
- SK Rapid vs. Shamrock Rovers FC (1:1); 28 November 2024
Fmproper conduct of the team (five yellow cards): €3,500
Total fines: €19,500 (compared with €29,875 fines in the 2022 season when they played in the Europa Conference League group stage)
Total confirmed UEFA reward = €6,410,622 - €19,500 = €6,391,122
The Hoops have earned so far 12.375 UEFA coefficient points - for a breakdown of that total see here.
Shelbourne
Shels earned €700,000 in prize money from their European run. For the two rounds they played, they received €350k (2 x €175k) plus €350k on elimination in the Conference League second qualifying round at the hands of FC Zurich (losing 3-0 away followed by a scoreless draw at home).
However, in the first round they were hit with a significant fine from their away game in Gibraltar against St. Joseph’s FC including a five figure sum for Gibraltar is Spanish chants from the Reds away supporters during their second leg 1-1 draw after a the 2-1 win in Tolka Park (see here).
The Gibraltar FA submitted evidence to UEFA of what they called “appalling and unacceptable behaviour of Shelbourne FC supporters at Europa Point Stadium and around Gibraltar” and UEFA hit Shels with the following fines.
- St Joseph's FC vs Shelbourne FC (1-1); 18 July 2024
Throwing of objects fine: €11,250
Transmitting a provocative political message non fit for a sports event fine: €10,000
Total fine: €21,250
Total UEFA reward = €700,000 - €21,250 = €678,750
Shels added two points (from one win and two draws) to the UEFA coefficient total for League of Ireland clubs in Europe.
Derry City
The Candystipes got dumped out of Conference League first qualifying round by Gibraltarian side Magpies and so earned the basic €325,000 in prize money (€175k for playing one round and €150k on elimination in the first round qualifiers).
They were fined also €2,250 for objects thrown on the pitch in the 2-1 second leg win in Derry, leaving their earnings from UEFA at €322,750.
They lost 2-0 in the first leg away but their home win added a full coefficient point to Ireland's total for the season.
Total fines
Total prize money to League of Ireland clubs as of 31 Dec 2024 to clubs €8,710,622
Total fines €43,000
Total earnings €8,667,622
Total UEFA coefficient points
The League of Ireland total for this season stands at a record 19.375, giving an average of 4.843 which puts Ireland 24th for this current campaign to date.
Shamrock Rovers Euro campaign in numbers – goals, appearances, coefficient points and prize money - https://t.co/94rjArrGiRhttps://t.co/IQV7eBlTt9
— extratime.com (@ExtratimeNews) December 24, 2024