UEFA demotes Crystal Palace to Conference League over multi-Club ownership violation

Crystal Palace have been relegated from the UEFA Europa League to the Europa Conference League due to a breach of UEFA’s multi-club ownership regulations, the European football governing body confirmed on Friday.

The demotion stems from the ownership ties of U.S. businessman John Textor, who holds significant stakes in both Crystal Palace and French side Olympique Lyonnais. Both clubs had secured qualification for the Europa League, but UEFA rules prohibit two clubs with the same ownership structure from competing in the same European competition.

Given Lyon’s higher league finish — sixth in Ligue 1 compared to Palace’s 12th in the Premier League — the French club retained their Europa League spot, while Palace were moved to the third-tier Conference League.

Crystal Palace had earned their historic first-ever European qualification by winning the FA Cup in May, marking the club’s first major trophy. However, the ownership conflict jeopardized their Europa League status.

Textor has since agreed to sell his 43 percent stake in Palace to Woody Johnson, owner of the NFL’s New York Jets, but the transaction occurred after UEFA’s March 1 deadline for resolving multi-club ownership issues and has yet to be finalized.

UEFA had initially delayed its decision due to Lyon’s financial troubles, which led to their temporary demotion to France’s second division. However, Lyon won their appeal on Wednesday, aided by Textor stepping back from the club’s daily operations.

Crystal Palace are expected to challenge UEFA’s ruling at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Meanwhile, Nottingham Forest, who finished seventh in the Premier League, will take Palace’s place in the Europa League, a UEFA source told AFP.