Crystal Palace have been thrown into turmoil after being demoted from the Europa League to the Europa Conference League, despite earning a historic FA Cup victory that should have guaranteed their spot in Europe’s second-tier competition. The decision has sparked outrage among fans and officials, who argue that the ruling undermines sporting merit and fair play.
The controversy arises from UEFA’s multi-club ownership regulations, which prohibit two clubs under the same majority control from competing in the same European competition. Palace’s American shareholder, John Textor, also holds a controlling stake in French side Olympique Lyon, who qualified for the Europa League. UEFA had imposed a strict compliance deadline of March 1, 2025, for resolving such ownership conflicts. Palace, however, failed to meet the requirement in time.
As a result, Nottingham Forest, who finished seventh in the Premier League, have been promoted to the Europa League, while Palace have been relegated to the Europa Conference League. This decision has left the South London club and its supporters seething, especially as this was their first major trophy in history and their ticket to Europe’s elite stage.
Club chairman Steve Parish condemned the decision, calling it an injustice and a damaging blow to football’s integrity. Fans mirrored this sentiment, staging protests outside Selhurst Park and accusing UEFA of penalizing them for what they consider an administrative technicality rather than a genuine competitive advantage. Many believe the decision strips the club and its supporters of the reward they earned on the pitch.
John Textor is reportedly negotiating the sale of his Palace stake to resolve the conflict, but that process did not conclude before UEFA’s deadline. Palace insist this ongoing deal should have been considered before enforcing such a harsh penalty.
The club has vowed to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), arguing that the punishment is disproportionate and undermines the principle of sporting merit. They maintain that the ownership situation did not affect competitive balance and should not negate their FA Cup achievement.
UEFA has yet to issue further comment, but the decision continues to ignite debate across football circles. For Palace and their fans, the fight is far from over as they seek reinstatement to the Europa League and justice for what they see as an avoidable and deeply unfair ruling.
