Followingthe Wembley Cup, Europa League potential next destination.
Crystal Palace Demoted from Europa League Following Multi-Club Ownership Breach
In a controversial decision, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has dismissed Crystal Palace's appeal against UEFA's demotion of the club from the Europa League for the 2025/2026 season. The ruling follows a breach of UEFA's multi-club ownership (MCO) regulations.
The MCO regulations were violated because American businessman John Textor had control or influence in both Crystal Palace and French club Lyon, as of March 1, 2025. This conflict arose when Lyon's Coupe de France victory later elevated them to the Europa League, while Crystal Palace had qualified by winning the FA Cup.
Crystal Palace had argued that the UEFA decision was unfair, challenging the elevation of Nottingham Forest to the Europa League and Lyon's participation in the competition. However, CAS rejected these arguments, confirming that the UEFA decision stands due to the higher league position of Lyon relative to Palace.
As a result, Crystal Palace will participate in the UEFA Conference League instead, while Nottingham Forest have been elevated to take Palace's place in the Europa League. The CAS ruling was handed down on August 11, 2025, during a 10-hour hearing in Lausanne attended by Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish.
Coach Oliver Glasner, who led Eintracht Frankfurt to Europa League glory three years ago and caused a major upset with his team in the FA Cup final against Manchester City, expressed his disappointment with the decision. "If punished and feeling innocent, it's hard," he said, referring to the CAS decision in Lausanne.
The demotion could financially strain the club, as star players Marc Guehi and Eberechi Eze are on the shopping list of big clubs. To prepare for the upcoming season and future competitions, Glasner has demanded new players from the club management.
Despite the current situation, Glasner is proud of his team. They recently won the English Super Cup against Liverpool in a penalty shootout, demonstrating their fighting spirit. Crystal Palace has confirmed that they will seek further legal advice while preparing to compete in the Conference League.
References:
- BBC Sport
- ESPN
- The Guardian
- Crystal Palace FC Official Statement
In light of the CAS decision, Crystal Palace will now compete in the UEFA Conference League instead of the Europa League next season due to a breach of UEFA's multi-club ownership regulations. This breach was caused by American businessman John Textor having control or influence over both Crystal Palace and French club Lyon, as of March 1, 2025.
