Fans of Crystal Palace protest against the UEFA decision to demote the club from Europa league to the Europa conference league outside Selhurst Park stadium on July 15, 2025 in London, England.placeholder image
Fans of Crystal Palace protest against the UEFA decision to demote the club from Europa league to the Europa conference league outside Selhurst Park stadium on July 15, 2025 in London, England. | Getty Images
Crystal Palace fans turned out in their droves to protest against UEFA on Tuesday evening
Crystal Palace fans took to the streets on Tuesday night to protest against UEFA after the Eagles were demoted from the Europa League because of an apparent breach of multi-club ownership rules.
John Textor, who owns a minority stake in Palace, is the majority owner of French side Lyon who have also qualified for the Europa League. Palace reached the competition after winning the FA Cup. The decision to demote Palace ahead of Lyon is due to the French club finishing higher in their domestic league.
Textor has agreed to sell his share in Palace to New York Jets owner Woody Johnson, but this agreement came after a March 1 UEFA deadline to show proof of restructuring.
Crystal Palace statement on UEFA decision
“It’s clear for everyone to see that we are not part of a multi-club operation and never have been. Further with the completion of the sale of Eagle football’s shareholding to Woody Johnson there will be zero possibility of a conflict of interest once the competition begins.
“We will continue to press our case and work with UEFA to achieve the fair and just outcome so that we may take our rightful place in the Europa League, as well as taking legal advice to consider our options, including an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).”
What Steve Parish said
Chairman Steve Parish 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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