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Nottingham Forest Europa League decision leaked as controversial statement expected

Nottingham Forest have replaced Crystal Palace in the Europa League on UEFA’s official website.

Forest are expected to replace the Eagles in the Europa League, although this has not yet been confirmed by UEFA.

But the European football governing body’s website has the Reds listed alongside Aston Villa as England’s two representatives in the competition for 2025/26.

It comes as Palace fans staged a protest outside Selhurst Park on Tuesday evening following UEFA’s ruling to demote the club to the Conference League.

Hundreds of supporters marched from Norwood Clocktower to Palace’s stadium carrying banners, with one at the front declaring “UEFA: MORALLY BANKRUPT. REVOKE THE RULING NOW”.

Palace qualified for this season’s Europa League courtesy of their shock win over Manchester City in the FA Cup final in May, which secured a historic first major trophy.

But they missed a March 1 deadline to demonstrate that American co-owner John Textor, also a part-owner at Lyon, had no control or influence over more than one club in the same competition.

UEFA’s Club Financial Control Body (CFCB) decided Textor’s interest in both clubs meant only one could enter the Europa League, with Lyon’s higher league position edging out Palace.

Palace are weighing up their options in response and admitted they could appeal UEFA’s verdict at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Textor has agreed to sell his shareholding in Palace to New York Jets owner Woody Johnson. He has also stepped down as Lyon president, but remains co-owner.

Forest are expected to replace the Eagles in the Europa League after finishing seventh in the Premier League last season.

Palace chairman Steve Parish declared it “a bad day for football” and “a terrible injustice” after the club were demoted to the Conference League having fallen foul of UEFA’s rules on multi-club ownership.

A petition urging UEFA to reconsider and reinstate Palace back in the Europa League has been signed by more than 3,000 people since being created on Friday.

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