CAS rejects Noravank’s appeal – FFA’s Official statement

On May 31, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), following an expedited review, rejected the appeal submitted by Noravank SC, thereby upholding UEFA’s Club Financial Control Body (CFCB) decision that Noravank SC does not meet the “three-year rule” and is ineligible to apply for a UEFA club license for the 2022/23 season.

The FFA Licensing Department provided an official commentary on the situation through the FFA’s official website, explaining the details of the case:

What is the Three-Year Rule?

According to Article 12 of the UEFA Club Licensing Regulations, in order to apply for a UEFA license, the license applicant must have been a member of its national association (either directly or via contractual relationship) for at least three consecutive years prior to the start of the licensing process.

UEFA does allow for exceptions to this rule, but the authority to grant such exceptions lies exclusively with UEFA and only in specific cases defined by UEFA.

Despite the limitations, after Noravank SC reached the semifinals of the VBET Armenian Cup, the club expressed its intention to request an exemption from the three-year rule. Accordingly, the FFA Licensing Department reviewed the club’s financial documentation.

It should be noted that Noravank SC’s licensing package, especially its financial documentation, fully met UEFA licensing requirements. However, the FFA did not have the authority to grant the UEFA license due to the barrier posed by the three-year rule.

UEFA’s licensing department was informed of the situation, and they advised the club to submit an exemption request after its victory in the cup semifinals.

On May 2, the FFA Club Licensing Committee decided to postpone its decision on Noravank’s UEFA license application, awaiting a response from the UEFA Club Financial Control Body (CFCB) regarding the exemption request.

On May 17, the CFCB rejected Noravank’s request, and the club decided to appeal UEFA’s decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne.

It’s important to stress that at the start of the 2022/2023 licensing process, in December 2021, when license applications were submitted, it was already clear that Noravank SC did not meet the three-year rule and was therefore ineligible to apply for a UEFA license or participate in UEFA competitions for the 2022/23 season.

Despite this, the FFA Licensing Department provided full support and guidance to the club throughout the process.

As a result of the CAS decision, Armenia will be represented in UEFA club competitions for the 2022/23 season by the following clubs:

FC Pyunik – UEFA Champions League, 1st Qualifying Round

FC Ararat-Armenia – UEFA Europa Conference League, 2nd Qualifying Round

FC Alashkert – UEFA Europa Conference League, 1st Qualifying Round

FC Ararat – UEFA Europa Conference League, 1st Qualifying Round