Crystal Palace lose appeal against demotion by UEFA from Europa League
Crystal Palace have been demoted from the second-tier Europa League to the third-tier Conference League after losing their appeal against UEFA in the Court of Arbitration for Sports.
A day after enjoying the high of winning the FA Community Shield after beating Liverpool on penalties, Crystal Palace suffered a big blow to their European hopes after losing their appeal at the Court of Arbitration on Monday against demotion from the second-tier Europa League. After losing the appeal because of breaching UEFA rules on club ownership with American investor John Textor, the Eagles will be demoted to the third-tier Conference League
The CAB, sport's highest court, said its judges dismissed the FA Cup winner's request to stay in the Europa League in a case that also involved Premier League rival Nottingham Forest and French club Lyon.
While Forest and Lyon will make direct entries into the Europa League in September, Palace will play in the Conference League qualifying playoffs round next week against Fredrikstad of Norway or Midtjylland of Denmark on Aug. 21 and Aug. 28.
Palace pay a massive price of breaching UEFA rules
UEFA decided to demote Palace because Textor had a 43% ownership stake last season while also owning Lyon. The European football governing body set a March deadline to solve the potential issue, but Palace missed it.
CAS said its judges decided Textor "was a board member with decisive influence over both clubs at the time of UEFA's assessment date." The panel of three judges "considered that the UEFA Regulations are clear and do not provide flexibility to clubs that are non-compliant on the assessment date," the court said in a statement.
Despite Textor selling his stake in Palace last month to New York Jets owner Woody Johnson, the case proceeded as per the schedule.
Unlike Palace, Forest and Lyon remain part of multi-club ownership networks, though they are not in conflict with UEFA rules for entry to European competitions. Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis also owns Greek club Olympiakos, which will feature in the Champions League this season.
Palace qualified for the Europa League by winning the English cup in May, a first major trophy in the club's 120-year history.