A UEFA panel has ruled that Crystal Palace will compete in the Europa Conference League next season, a demotion from their qualified Europa League spot. This decision follows breaches of multi-club ownership regulations.
Nottingham Forest, who finished seventh in the Premier League, could potentially take Crystal Palace`s place in the Europa League. Palace is expected to appeal the ruling made by the first chamber of UEFA`s Club Financial Control Body (CFCB). UEFA rules explicitly state that two clubs playing in the same competition cannot be fully or partially owned by the same entity beyond a specific threshold.
Eagle Football, owned by American businessman John Textor, holds significant shareholdings in both Crystal Palace and the French club Lyon. Lyon recently successfully appealed against relegation from Ligue 1, securing their spot in the Europa League through their league finish. This outcome necessitated a decision from UEFA`s CFCB, as both clubs were now potentially eligible for the same European competition.
Crystal Palace argued that John Textor did not wield significant influence at the club, but UEFA concluded otherwise. Textor is reportedly in discussions to sell his stake in Palace to Woody Johnson, owner of the New York Jets, although this deal has not yet received ratification from the Premier League. Palace also missed a March 1 deadline to provide proof of restructuring related to multi-club ownership compliance. It is speculated that they might have deemed European qualification unlikely at that point, as the team was sitting in 12th place in the Premier League table.
This potential change means Nottingham Forest, originally set for a Conference League season based on their seventh-place finish, would be elevated to the Europa League.
