Crystal Palace is said to be playing in the conference league this season, not in the Europa League. Despite winning the FA Cup, Palace will not take part in a contest the following year that offers winners to pass directly into the Champions League.
The Eagles went to the Sports Court of Arbitration (CAS) after UEFA’s Club Financial Control Agency (CFCB) ordered them to stop by the European tier 3 tournament. That’s because they hadn’t made arrangements before they complied with the Multiclub ownership restrictions before the March 1 deadline.
“After considering the evidence, the panel discovered that John Textor, founder of Eagle Football Holdings, has stakes in CPFC and OL and is a board member who has a decisive influence on both clubs on the day of UEFA valuation.
“The panel also dismissed the argument that CPFC was unfairly treated compared to Nottingham Forest and Office Ladies. The panel thought, as CPFC argued, UEFA regulations were clear and that they would not provide flexibility for clubs that were not complying with the assessment date.”
That deadline came well before the palace won the FA Cup and qualified for Europe. They appealed the decision and went to CAS, but today the palace legal battle was defeated and was ruled today that they would not return to the Europa League.
Instead, the palace must enter the conference league qualifying round. Nottingham Forest was originally able to compete in the conference league through his Premier League finish last season, and will play in the Europa League.
The Governing Body determined that John Techt, co-owner of the palace, had an influence on decision-making at Selhurst Park. The text, like the palace, owns shares of Lyon, qualified for the 2025/26 edition of the Europa League.
However, in accordance with UEFA rules, two clubs with the same multi-club ownership model cannot compete in the same European competition. The palace was demoted due to declines in their respective leagues. The Palace denies interference from the text throughout.
However, they have lost the fight and are now denied the appeal of Europa League soccer and the additional finances of playing in the tournament. The decision is argued that the London club could cost around £20 million due to differences in prize money available in the Europa League compared to the conference league.
