Crystal Palace have been demoted from the UEFA Europa League to the UEFA Europa Conference League for the upcoming season following a breach of UEFA’s multi-club ownership rules.
The ruling, confirmed on Friday by European football’s governing body, stems from American businessman John Textor’s stake in both Crystal Palace and French side Olympique Lyonnais, who also secured qualification for the Europa League.
Under UEFA regulations, two clubs with shared ownership, beyond a threshold of influence, are barred from competing in the same European tournament to prevent any potential conflict of interest or collusion.
Textor owns 77% of Lyon through Eagle Football and holds a 43% stake in Palace. UEFA rejected Crystal Palace’s defence that Textor has no decisive influence on their operations.
“UEFA’s multi-club ownership rules are designed to uphold the integrity of its competitions. Clubs must prove that they are not ‘simultaneously involved in any capacity whatsoever in the management, administration, and/or sporting performance’ of another participating team,” UEFA stated.
With Lyon finishing sixth in Ligue 1 and Palace qualifying for Europe via their FA Cup triumph despite a 12th-place Premier League finish, the French side were given precedence in the Europa League lineup. The decision leaves Palace in the third-tier Conference League, pending an appeal.
Palace are expected to challenge the ruling at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), with club sources indicating preparations are already underway.
The implications could hand Nottingham Forest, who finished seventh in the Premier League, a shot at the Europa League, depending on the outcome of Palace’s appeal.
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