UEFA are not very popular at Crystal Palace right now.
The organisation demoted the Eagles from the Europa League into the Conference League – which Joe Cole thinks Oliver Glasner will win – after Crystal Palace failed to show proof of ownership restructuring before a deadline on 1st March.
However, that would have required John Textor to put his shares in a blind trust, although the American was actively trying to sell his 45% stake at that point and could not do so if that action had been taken.
UEFA handled the situation miserably, wasting most of the summer transfer window before making a decision, and have now slapped Crystal Palace with a fine after fans hit back.
UEFA fine Crystal Palace
After UEFA become the subject of banners labelled ‘UEFA Mafia’ and derogatory chants following their controversial decision, they have taken action by fining the Eagles £8,693 – according to The Sun.
UEFA believe Crystal Palace have breached articles 16(2)(e) and 11(2)(d) of their regulations, which involve ‘bringing the governing body into disrepute’ and ‘transmitting a message that is not fit for a sports event’ after the banner appeared at several matches so far this season.
Crystal Palace fans display banner against UEFA
Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images
Of course, a sum of £8,693 is a drop in the ocean for a Premier League club, but it is the principle of the situation that should irk both Steve Parish and supporters, who are merely speaking up against an organisation who haven’t covered themselves in glory.
What UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin said about multi-club ownership
Aleksander Ceferin, the main man at UEFA, even once admitted on the Men In Blazers podcast that he’s not actually that bothered about genuine multi-club groups partaking in the same competition.
UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin
Photo by Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images
The Slovenian conceded that UEFA “pretend” some clubs are innocent, revealing: “There are clubs, or at least one, where we still pretend it’s not the same owner (as another) but it’s the same owner, and I will not tell you which. You can guess.”
Comments like these caused the ‘UEFA Mafia’ banner to be born, so it is something of a joke that the organisation has now punished Crystal Palace – who have made a change to Selhurst Park – for speaking up against their nonsense.