Crystal Palace Fans Protest Europa League Ban With Fake Money At UEFA Headquarters

Crystal Palace fans have protested UEFA's decision to exclude the club from the 2025-26 Europa League despite their historic FA Cup win, which qualified them for the tournament. The exclusion stems from UEFA's multi-club ownership rules, as co-owner John Textor holds stakes in both Crystal Palace and Olympique Lyonnais, with UEFA ruling that only one club under shared ownership can participate. Although Textor agreed to sell his stake to Woody Johnson, the sale was not completed before UEFA's March 1 deadline, leading to Palace's exclusion while Lyon retained their Europa League spot. Fans, led by the Holmesdale Fanatics, delivered a suitcase of fake money and a letter to UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, symbolizing their view that UEFA prioritizes financial interests over fairness and integrity. The club has appealed the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), with a verdict expected on August 11, 2025, and fans have continued protesting at CAS headquarters in Lausanne. If the appeal is denied, Nottingham Forest is expected to take Palace's place in the Europa League, while Palace would compete in the Europa Conference League.