By MIKE KEEGAN
Published: 11:20 EDT, 11 July 2025 | Updated: 11:24 EDT, 11 July 2025
Crystal Palace have been ‘demoted’ to the Europa Conference League – with Nottingham Forest in line to take their Europa League slot.
In a devastating blow for the FA Cup winners, UEFA have confirmed that Palace will drop from the second tier European competition to the third after breaching its rules on multi-club ownership.
Palace officials are understood to be furious with the decision, and intend to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). CAS have the ability to fast-track cases, and would no doubt do so in this instance.
However, last month they upheld UEFA’s decision to kick Drogheda United out of the Conference League under multi-club ownership rules.
As is the case with Palace, the Irish side missed UEFA’s March 1 deadline to make changes to ownership or executive structure to navigate any issues. CAS ruled that the March 1 deadline – also missed by Palace – was fair and had been communicated.
Palace’s majority owners were Eagle Football Holdings, a group owned by US businessman John Textor.
Crystal Palace initially qualified for the Europa League through their FA Cup win but have now dropped out of the competition
Lyon, who are majority owned by Palace's previous shareholder John Textor, will compete in the competition after their appeal to stay in Ligue 1 was upheld
John Textor owned stakes in both Palace and Lyon, causing a problem due to multi-club ownership rules
The group owns French side Lyon, who also qualified for the Europa League. Rules state that, in cases of multi-club ownership where two teams qualify for the same competition, only one can take part.
That place goes to the club which finished higher in its domestic league. Lyon ended in sixth, while Palace were 12th.
Forest, who were due to compete in the Conference League after finishing in seventh.
Mail Sport revealed Palace officials were to jet to UEFA HQ in Switzerland to plead their case.
They argued that, as Textor held only 25 per cent of voting rights, he was not in a position of influence at Selhurst Park.
They were given hope when Lyon were relegated to Ligue 2 for financial breaches. However, Lyon were successful in their appeal earlier this week, and now UEFA have confirmed the decision.