Crystal Palace will drop down to Conference League over ownership rules

Crystal Palace have been forced to drop down to the Conference League after falling foul of UEFA’s rules on multi-club ownership.

Palace qualified for the Europa League thanks to their FA Cup final victory over Manchester City in May, but under Article Five of UEFA’s club competition regulations, clubs wishing to be eligible for qualification in 2025-26 had to be able to demonstrate as of March 1 that no individual or legal entity had control or influence over more than one club in the same competition.

UEFA’s Club Financial Control Body (CFCB) determined that American businessman John Textor’s interest in both Palace and Lyon meant only one of the clubs could enter the Europa League, with Lyon’s higher league position edging out Palace.

Palace will drop into the Conference League, with Nottingham Forest expected to replace them in the Europa League, though this was not immediately confirmed by UEFA.

UEFA said the decision could be appealed against at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

UEFA had to postpone a decision in the case pending the outcome of an appeal by Lyon against a decision by French football’s financial regulator to relegate them to the second division.

Lyon had reached a settlement with UEFA agreeing to be excluded from European competition if that relegation was upheld on appeal, but on Wednesday the club learned they had overturned the original decision and held on to their top-flight spot. At that point, Palace’s prospects of playing in the Europa League appeared to recede considerably.

Textor, who has agreed to sell his shareholding in Palace to New York Jets owner Woody Johnson, told talkSPORT earlier this week he was “worried” this situation might arise from the moment Palace won the FA Cup.

Asked what he thought as they booked their European place, Textor replied: “Oh s***, is what I thought.

“I was very happy, but I felt the gravity of it. And I was concerned on the same day holding the cup next to the Prince (William).”

Palace have been approached for comment.