Palace kicked out of the UEL
UEFA's ownership rules point to a conflict of interest
Palace fans hit the streets in protest
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WHAT HAPPENED?
At the heart of the controversy lies Palace co-owner John Textor. His investment firm, Eagles Football Holdings Ltd, holds a controlling interest in both the South London club and French side Olympique Lyonnais. Under UEFA statutes, clubs with shared ownership structures are not permitted to participate in the same European competition. While Textor is reportedly in the process of offloading his shares to comply with these rules, the governing body maintained its stance, ruling that Palace’s spot in the Europa League would violate these ownership restrictions.
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THE BIGGER PICTURE
THE BIGGER PICTURE
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish did not mince words when reacting to the ruling. He condemned UEFA’s action as “a bad day for football” and labelled the decision a “terrible injustice” to the club and its supporters. The Palace board, alongside its fanbase, believes the punishment is unwarranted and undermines the integrity of on-field success. Despite the club’s efforts to resolve the ownership overlap in time, UEFA’s strict interpretation left no room for reconsideration.
PALACE FANS COME OUT IN NUMBERS
In a show of defiance, the Holmesdale Fanatics, Crystal Palace’s most vocal supporter group, organised a protest on Tuesday. Fans gathered at the clock tower in Norwood and marched to Selhurst Park in solidarity against the decision. A powerful banner reading “UEFA: Morally bankrupt. Revoke the ruling now.” was unveiled as part of the demonstration. The group denounced the governing body for prioritising bureaucracy over sporting merit and for ignoring the emotional and financial investment fans make in their clubs.
DID YOU KNOW?
As a direct consequence of Palace’s exclusion, Nottingham Forest have been promoted from the UEFA Europa Conference League to the Europa League. The latest UEFA competition listings now include Forest and Aston Villa as England’s representatives in the second-tier tournament.
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WHAT NEXT FOR PALACE?
WHAT NEXT FOR PALACE?
WHAT NEXT FOR PALACE?
Palace, meanwhile, have been confirmed as one of the five seeded clubs for the UEFA Conference League play-off draw on August 4. They will begin their campaign in the final qualifying round, needing to win a two-legged tie to reach the league phase.