Crystal Palace will not be playing in this season’s Europa League after losing their appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against a UEFA ruling that demoted them to the Europa Conference League.
The decision means Premier League side Nottingham Forest are officially promoted into the Europa League group stage in Palace’s place, while French club Lyon ; also involved in the case keep their spot.
Palace earned Europa League qualification by winning last season’s FA Cup but were punished by UEFA for breaching its multi-club ownership rules.
The governing body ruled that American businessman John Textor’s stake in Palace, combined with his majority ownership of French side Lyon, gave him enough influence over two clubs in the same competition ; something UEFA regulations strictly forbid.
The London club had hoped CAS would overturn the punishment, arguing Textor had no “decisive influence” over their operations. However, UEFA pointed out that Palace missed a March 1, 2025 deadline to prove changes to their ownership structure.
Speaking before the verdict, Palace chairman Steve Parish had expressed optimism:
“We don’t think this is the right decision by any means. We know, unequivocally, that John didn’t have decisive influence over the club… it’s a fact.”
UEFA’s rules are designed to prevent conflicts of interest, ensuring no two clubs under significant shared control compete in the same European tournament.
The outcome leaves Palace in the Conference League play-off round later this month, while Forest, who finished seventh in the Premier League, now join Europe’s second-tier competition.
