Crystal Palace: Why FA Cup and Community Shield Winners Were Ejected From Europa League
- The Court of Arbitration of Arbitration for Sport has upheld Crystal Palace’s ejection from the UEFA Europa League
- Crystal Palace qualified for the second-tier European competition after beating Manchester City to win the 2025 FA Cup
- The South London club won the first English football curtain raiser, the Community Shield, after beating Liverpool
Crystal Palace will play in the UEFA Europa Conference League this season after the latest ruling from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
Palace qualified for the UEFA Europa League after defeating Manchester City at Wembley Stadium to win the FA Cup in the 2024/25 season.
Source: Getty Images
However, the Eagles were demoted due to a UEFA multi-club rule to which they appealed by were unsuccessful and will play in the third-tier competition next season, according to Sky Sports.
Crystal Palace’s ejection explained
CAS confirmed in an official statement that it had dismissed the appeal filed by the Premier League club after UEFA ejected the club from the Europa League.
The court based in Switzerland argued that American businessman John Texter owned controlling shares at Palace and Olympique Lyon at the time of the decision.
Texter sold his share in the London club for £100 million to fellow American businessman Woody Johnson, but it had passed the timeline when it could save the club.
Crystal Palace's argument, led by CEO Steve Parish, was that Lyon were allowed to play in the Europa League, while Nottingham Forest and Olympiakos, owned by Evangelos Marinakis, are also in Europe.
Lyon were initially ejected after they were relegated to Ligue 2 due to financial breaches, but were reinstated after receiving cash injected to secure their top-flight status.
Nottingham Forest owner Marinakis had reportedly ceded control of his shares at the club and put it in a blind trust when it was evident the club would qualify for Europe.
Forest, which qualified for the Conference League, will join Aston Villa as the second English team in the competition, while Palace will drop a level below.
Fans were displeased at UEFA’s ruling against Palace after previously allowing teams from the multi-club model to play in the same competition.
Manchester City and Girona, which were part of the City Group, both competed in the UEFA Champions League last season, while Chelsea and Strasbourg will be in Europe this season.
Source: Getty Images
Palace chairman and co-owner Parish, ahead of the Community Shield final against Liverpool, had hinted that the club would consider other options if they don't receive a favourable outcome.
“If we don't get the right outcome, then we will have to look if there's any steps after that,” Parish said.
The decision will cost Palace a huge prize money next season. For context, Tottenham received £35 million for winning the Europa League last season, more than double what Chelsea received for winning the Conference League.
Oliver Glasner reacted to pending verdict
Legit.ng reported that Oliver Glasner reacted to the pending verdict after Crystal Palace beat Liverpool on penalties to win the Community Shield.
The Austrian manager claimed he would not trade their Shield win for playing in the Europa League, as he wants to deal with what he can control.
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Source: Legit.ng
