Crystal Palace LOSE appeal over expulsion from Europa League

Crystal Palace’s hopes of competing in the Europa League this season have ended after they lost their appeal against Uefa’s decision to demote them. The Court of Arbitration for Sport upheld the ruling, meaning the Eagles will instead compete in the Europa Conference League. Palace had secured Europa League qualification by winning the FA Cup last season but were found to have breached Uefa’s multi-club ownership rules. The issue centres on American businessman John Textor, who owns a stake in Palace and is also the majority owner of French club Lyon. Both clubs had qualified for the Europa League, triggering the rule that prevents two clubs under the same ownership from competing in the same Uefa competition.

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In July, Palace appealed against Uefa’s decision, naming Lyon and Nottingham Forest as parties in the case. Nottingham Forest benefit from the outcome as they have now been promoted to the Europa League in Palace’s place. The decision finalises the European competition lineup for the upcoming season and closes the door on Palace’s legal options.

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The ruling is a major blow for Crystal Palace, who had been preparing for their first Europa League campaign in years. The demotion means the club will instead enter the Europa Conference League, which is considered a lower-tier European competition. While it still offers continental football and the chance for silverware, it does not carry the same prestige or financial rewards as the Europa League.

Uefa’s multi-club ownership rules aim to maintain competition integrity by preventing potential conflicts of interest between clubs with shared owners. In this case, John Textor’s significant stakes in both Palace and Lyon created a direct breach once both sides qualified for the Europa League. The decision also highlights how ownership structures in football can have significant consequences on-field, even after a successful season.

Nottingham Forest, who finished the Premier League season just outside the qualification spots, now gain a valuable opportunity to compete in the Europa League. This could bring them increased revenue, higher visibility, and the chance to attract more talented players. For Palace, the focus will now shift to making the most of their Conference League campaign while continuing to perform strongly in domestic competitions.