LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — Crystal Palace lost its appeal to the Sport Supreme Court against its demolition on Monday after violating UEFA rules regarding club ownership with American investor John Text.
The sports arbitration court said the judges have rejected the English Cup winner’s request to remain in the more profitable second tier Europa League in an incident involving Premier League rivals Nottingham Forest and French Club Lyon.
Forest and Lyon have confirmed that they will be incorporating direct entries into the Europa League in September, and Palace will need to start in the Conference League Qualifier Playoffs next week. The palace was portrayed last week to play Fredrikstad, Norway or the Danish Midzielland, on August 21 and August 28th.
UEFA demoted the palace. The text was 43% ownership last season, but also owned by Lyon. The palace missed the March deadline set by UEFA to resolve potential issues.
The CAS said the judges have decided on the text. “As of UEFA’s evaluation date, he is an officer with a decisive influence over both clubs.”
A panel of three judges believes that “UEFA regulations are clear and that they do not provide flexibility for clubs that do not comply with the assessment date.” The court said in a statement.
The incident went on to the text despite selling stakes in the palace to Woody Johnson, the owner of the New York Jets last month.
Unlike the palace, forests and Lyon remain part of the multiclub ownership network, but do not contradict UEFA rules for registration in European competitions. Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis also has Greek title holder Olympiakos, who will play in the Champions League this season.
The Palace qualified in the merits of the second tier Europa League by winning the English Cup in May, the first major trophy in the club’s 120-year history.
The threat of UEFA sanctions for violating multiclub ownership rules drafted more than 25 years ago to protect the integrity of European competitions has cast a shadow over the celebrations and preparations of this offseason.
At Wembley Stadium on Sunday, some Palace fans exhibited the slogan “Uefa Mafia” ahead of the match against Liverpool in the season opening match between the Cup winner and the league champion.
UEFA repeatedly warned About the tendency for investors to acquire interests and full ownership in multiple clubs in different countries, and the potential threats to the integrity of the game and transfer market.
The text has been one of many US investors who have bought into the multi-billion dollar European football industry in recent years.
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