Europa League relegation transfers Palace position to Forest
Crystal Palace's appeal against their demotion from the Europa League to the Europa Conference League has been rejected by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). The rejection comes after UEFA ruled that the club breached multi-club ownership rules due to John Textor having decisive influence at both Palace and Olympique Lyonnais, both of which qualified for the Europa League.
Key Context and Legal Constraints
The CAS decision, which upheld UEFA's ruling, dismisses Crystal Palace's claims, including allegations of unfair treatment compared to other clubs. The multi-club ownership rule prohibits clubs with shared controlling ownership from competing in the same UEFA tournament. Textor's ownership of both Palace and Lyon triggered this rule, and the club failed to resolve the issue by the March 1 UEFA deadline.
With the CAS judgment being final and binding, Crystal Palace's legal remedies within sport governance are exhausted. The club's practical recourse outside sport could involve difficult civil litigation that is unlikely to overturn UEFA’s decision.
Next Steps for Crystal Palace
Palace might consider challenging UEFA's decision in a national or supranational court, but such cases are rare, complex, expensive, and usually have low chances of success given CAS's recognized authority and UEFA's regulatory framework. Alternatively, the club could try negotiating with UEFA or Textor to restructure ownership arrangements to qualify for future seasons, but this cannot reverse the current ruling.
Impact on the European Football Landscape
Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest, and Lyon will participate in the second tier of European football, while England will have nine teams across the coming season. Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Newcastle, Tottenham Hotspur, and Chelsea will compete in the Champions League.
Crystal Palace will now compete in the Europa Conference League, with potential opponents including Fiorentina and Strasbourg. The play-off ties will take place on 21 and 28 August, with Palace set to enter into the play-off round phase.
Noteworthy Developments
John Textor, a common shareholder of both Crystal Palace and Lyon, did not have any involvement in the running of Crystal Palace, according to the club. Textor's 43% stake in Crystal Palace was later sold to Woody Johnson, the owner of the New York Jets.
Last season, Palace qualified for the Europa League with their FA Cup final victory over Manchester City. The relegation decision was made after Crystal Palace lost their appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
Meanwhile, the relegation of Lyon to the second tier of French football over their finances was initially overturned through a successful appeal.
In conclusion, Crystal Palace's demotion from the Europa League to the Europa Conference League stands, and the club must now focus on their upcoming season in the lower tier of European football.
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