Crystal Palace Appeals UEFA Europa League Demotion Over Ownership Conflict

Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish has confirmed the club is appealing UEFA’s decision to demote them from the Europa League to the Europa Conference League due to a conflict of interest involving former director John Textor, who also owns part of French club Lyon. UEFA's rules prohibit an owner from having controlling stakes in multiple clubs competing in the same European tournament, and despite Textor selling his Palace stake, the ruling applies to the ownership situation at the end of last season when Palace qualified by winning the FA Cup. Parish insists Textor never had decisive influence over Palace and that the club has strong legal arguments for their appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Nottingham Forest will take Palace’s place in the Europa League, with reports suggesting Forest lobbied for Palace’s demotion. Parish described UEFA's decision as unfair and emphasized the significant impact participation in the Europa League could have on the club’s future. The case highlights ongoing tensions around ownership rules and their application in European football competitions.