Crystal Palace Appeals UEFA Decision
In a significant turn of events, Crystal Palace has officially appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) regarding their exclusion from the Europa League and subsequent placement in the Conference League. This move comes after a UEFA panel determined that both Crystal Palace and Ligue 1 club Lyon had violated the organization’s regulations concerning multi-club ownership.
Background of the Appeal
Earlier this month, UEFA ruled that Palace, who had earned a spot in the Europa League by clinching the FA Cup, would not be permitted to enter the competition. Instead, Nottingham Forest, having finished with a higher league position than Palace during the Premier League season, was granted the spot. The London club is now seeking a reversal of this decision, aiming for readmittance to the Europa League, while also requesting to take the place of Lyon, who ranked sixth in Ligue 1, as opposed to Palace’s 12th in the Premier League.
CAS Review Process
An announcement from CAS confirmed that they have received the appeal from Crystal Palace, which will undergo an expedited review process. An operative decision is expected to be announced no later than August 11, 2025, though this timing conflicts with the Conference League qualifying play-off draw scheduled for August 4, in which an English club must be included.
Statements from Club Officials
Palace chairman Steve Parish expressed frustration over the situation, suggesting that Nottingham Forest’s role in the decision indicated a lack of transparency in the process.
If there hadn’t been someone wanting to take our spot, there wouldn’t be an issue.
Parish remarked.
Ownership Controversy
The controversy surrounding the clubs stems from ownership ties linked to Eagle Football Holdings, which is led by American businessman John Textor. The company holds 77% of Lyon, and Textor was also reported to be divesting his 43% stake in Crystal Palace to Woody Johnson, owner of the New York Jets. UEFA’s regulations stipulate that if an entity holds significant influence over multiple clubs, those teams cannot compete in the same tournament without appropriate ownership restructuring by a March 1 deadline.
Financial Complications
There were also complications regarding Lyon’s eligibility in European competitions due to their financial issues, which initially led to their relegation to Ligue 2. They appealed successfully, retaining their place in the Europa League.
Conclusion
At the heart of the matter, Parish described UEFA’s decision as an “unjust technicality” that has deprived his club of a rightful place in Europe. On a similar note, Textor criticized the bureaucratic nature of the ruling, emphasizing that football should be driven by the players on the pitch rather than officials in offices.
The situation highlights ongoing challenges around club ownership and competition regulations, as seen in UEFA’s previous decisions to permit Manchester City and Girona as well as Manchester United and Nice to compete alongside each other after restructuring their ownership arrangements to comply with regulations.
