Crystal Palace Appeals UEFA Europa League Demotion Awaiting August 11 Decision

Crystal Palace is currently embroiled in a legal battle after being demoted from the Europa League to the Europa Conference League by UEFA due to a breach of multi-club ownership rules involving American businessman John Textor, who recently sold his stake in Palace but remains majority owner of French club Lyon. Palace missed the UEFA deadline of March 1, 2025, to prove restructuring of ownership and has appealed the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), with a hearing scheduled for August 8 and a decision expected on August 11. While awaiting the appeal outcome, Palace has been drawn against either Norwegian side Fredrikstad or Danish side Midtjylland in the Conference League play-off round, with matches set for August 21 and 28. Nottingham Forest is expected to replace Palace in the Europa League if the demotion stands. Crystal Palace also hopes to use correspondence between European clubs and legal documents to push for reinstatement to the Europa League, challenging Nottingham Forest's place. The appeal and ongoing legal proceedings have significant implications for Palace's European competition status this season.