Palace in Conference League after CAS backs UEFA ruling
Crystal Palace will play in the Conference League after The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) upheld organisers UEFA’s decision to demote the Eagles from the Europa League.
Palace lodged their appeal with the CAS in July, naming UEFA, French club Lyon and Nottingham Forest in their challenge.
UEFA imposed the sanction after Palace were found to have breached multi-club ownership regulations.
American investor John Textor held shares in the club while also serving as majority owner of Lyon, who are in this season’s Europa League.
Forest, who finished seventh in the Premier League, are expected to take the Europa League spot from Palace, who qualified by winning the FA Cup and are now expected to explore their legal options.
More to follow
Why are Palace in the Conference League?
UEFA rules prohibit clubs under the significant control of the same individual or entity from appearing in the same competition.
Palace, who have qualified for European competition for the first time in their history, failed to meet a deadline of March 1 to provide evidence of a restructuring that would address those concerns.
The club maintained that Textor did not exert decisive influence, but UEFA rejected that defence.
Last week, chairman Steve Parish told the Rest is Football podcast he was “very hopeful” of a successful appeal.
In their submission, Palace asked for UEFA’s financial control body ruling to be annulled and for their reinstatement in the Europa League at the expense of either Forest or Lyon.
Palace have been drawn against Norwegian team Fredrikstad or Danish side Midtjylland in the Conference League play-offs.
