Burnley owner plans to avoid Palace-style UEFA issue
Alan Pace, owner of Premier League club Burnley, completed his takeover of Spanish LaLiga side Espanyol last week. The acquisition by Velocity Sport Limited (VSL), the holding company behind Burnley since 2020, involves Pace positioning himself as Espanyol’s president while committing to avoid UEFA ownership conflicts similar to those faced by Crystal Palace.
Pace has outlined clear plans to steer clear of regulatory issues seen in the recent UEFA Club Financial Control Body (CFCB) ruling, which barred Crystal Palace from competing in the Europa League due to close ties with Lyon. He confirmed that if UEFA regulations pose a conflict, he would relinquish ownership in one of the clubs to maintain compliance.
“I have to leave one of the clubs, if not both at the same time,” Pace stated during a press conference in Barcelona. “There are plans in place, and we have been preparing with advisors for some time.”
Espanyol, under previous owner Rastar Group, suffered two relegations to the Spanish Segunda Division but bounced back each time. Pace has ambitious goals to elevate the club into LaLiga’s top six—a milestone he regards as a benchmark for success in Spanish football.
“Our target is to be among the big six clubs in Spain,” he said. “If we can do more than that, it would be a dream. This is a great club that deserves a mentality of winners.”
The takeover completes VSL’s transition as Espanyol’s major shareholder, replacing Rastar Group. Pace emphasized the complete operational independence between Burnley and Espanyol, despite shared ownership within his “family” of clubs. He also hinted at possible future portfolio expansion but noted no active pursuits currently.
Strategically, Pace highlighted the importance of building the Espanyol brand internationally and increasing local engagement in Barcelona, a city dominated by rivals FC Barcelona. Given LaLiga’s financial fair play restrictions, the club plans sustainable growth rather than overspending.
“Barcelona has grown more through global supporters than local fans,” Pace explained. “Many tourists visiting the city are not Barça fans. We want them to also discover Espanyol and become supporters.”
Additionally, former NFL player J.J. Watt, affiliated with Burnley, will be involved with Espanyol, though without a formal role.
Pace’s vision combines long-term stability with dynamic growth, aiming to make Espanyol a competitive force in Spanish football and, eventually, a Champions League contender. The club’s promising start to the new season, currently sitting ninth with 12 points from eight games, reflects early progress under the new ownership.
This acquisition and Pace’s strategic positioning underscore a growing trend of multi-club ownership models, requiring careful navigation of UEFA rules to avoid conflicts while leveraging global brand potential.