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Parish is not a happy man | Getty Images
Crystal Palace have been dumped out of the Europa League by UEFA.
Crystal Palace have been left ‘devastated’ by UEFA’s decision to demote them to the Conference League. The Eagles were being investigated to find out whether there is a conflict of interest between themselves and Lyon, who were both scheduled to play in the Europa League, while both are currently part-owned by John Textor.
Textor is about to sell his Palace shares, but UEFA have still found that his involvement is a breach of multi-club ownership rules. That’s despite other clubs who share an owner having been allowed to compete in the same competition previously, including Manchester City and Girona and many others.
UEFA’s statement read: “The First Chamber of the UEFA Club Financial Control Body has concluded the proceedings on the multi-club ownership case involving Crystal Palace (ENG) and Olympique Lyonnais (FRA). The CFCB First Chamber had opened proceedings against Crystal Palace and Olympique Lyonnais due to a potential conflict with the multi-club ownership rule provided for in Article 5 of the UEFA Club Competitions Regulations.
“On 9 July 2025, the appeal instance of the French financial control authority (DNCG) decided not to relegate Olympique Lyonnais to Ligue 2. Consequently, and following an assessment by the CFCB of all the other relevant conditions included in the settlement agreement, Olympique Lyonnais will not be excluded from the 2025/26 UEFA club competitions (see media release of 30 June 2025).
“Consequently, the CFCB First Chamber pursued the assessment of the documentation submitted by Olympique Lyonnais and Crystal Palace and concluded that the clubs breached, as at 1 March 2025, the multi-club ownership criteria foreseen in Art 5.01 of the UEFA Club Competition Regulations.
“For this reason, and in accordance with the provisions set in Art. 5.02, 5.03 and 5.04 of the UEFA Club Competitions Regulations, the CFCB First Chamber decided: To accept Olympique Lyonnais’ admission to the 2025/26 UEFA Europa League; and To reject Crystal Palace’s admission to the 2025/26 UEFA Europa League and to accept Crystal Palace’s admission to the 2025/26 UEFA Conference League. The present decision may be appealed against before the Court of Arbitration for Sport, in accordance with Articles 62 and 63 of the UEFA Statutes.”
Palace respond
Fabrizio Romano has explained how Palace have responded to the news. He posted on X: “Crystal Palace owners and directors are converging on New York for an emergency meeting tonight to discuss next steps after UEFA demoted the FA Cup winners to the Conference League. They believe their rightful place is in the Europa League and will fight to convince UEFA that they should still be allowed to play in the tournament.”
Meanwhile, Palace chief Steve Parish spoke to Sky Sports after learning the decision. He said: “We're devastated for, most importantly, the supporters. I think the supporters of all clubs should be devastated for us because this is the dream. I'm devastated for the players, for the fans, for the staff. I think it's a bad day for football.
“I think most football fans, right-minded football fans, will see what a terrible injustice this is for the football club. It’s one that I dearly hope somebody can remedy, because I do believe that nobody in football wants to see this. Nobody in football, and I don't think UEFA, want to see this – clubs that rightfully qualify for a competition being locked out of that competition, on the most ridiculous technicality that you can imagine.
"We're looking at all of the options at the moment. We would much prefer it if somebody intervened in this process. We believe it's possible for Mr Čeferin or somebody else to do that. This is a rule we can't comply with. A rule has been created that's impossible for Crystal Palace, the majority owners of Crystal Palace, to comply with. A minority shareholder needed to either sell or place their shares in trust. We had no power to compel them to do that. So that part alone is completely incongruous.”
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