Crystal Palace Demoted from Europa League to Conference League

[Shekinah Brama]

Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish has fiercely criticized UEFA’s recent decision to remove the club from next season’s Europa League, calling it “one of the greatest injustices” in European football history.

Despite earning a place in the Europa League after their historic FA Cup win, Palace have been relegated to the UEFA Conference League. The decision follows UEFA’s ruling that the club breached multi-club ownership rules due to minority shareholder John Textor’s involvement with French side Olympique Lyonnais, who also qualified for the Europa League.

UEFA’s Ruling and the Controversy
Under UEFA regulations, no two clubs with the same ownership or controlling interest can compete in the same European competition. Lyon’s recent reinstatement into Ligue 1 allowed them to reclaim their Europa League spot, effectively displacing Crystal Palace.

UEFA confirmed its decision on Friday, stating that the issue should have been resolved by March 1. Although Palace argues they are not part of a multi-club structure and that Textor’s involvement is minimal, the ruling went against them.

Parish: “A Devastating Blow for the Club and Fans”
In an exclusive interview with Sky Sports News, Steve Parish did not hide his frustration.

“We’re absolutely devastated—for the players, the staff, and most importantly, the supporters. You win a cup for the first time in your history, you earn a place in the Europa League, and then it’s taken away on a technicality. It’s like winning the lottery and being told you can’t claim your prize,” he said.

Parish maintained that Crystal Palace and Lyon are not part of a multi-club ownership group, stating there is no shared staff, players, or operational links between the two clubs.

“John [Textor] doesn’t have decisive influence over Crystal Palace. That’s been demonstrated. There have been no loans, no transactions, no football-related decisions shared between the clubs. We’ve been punished for something we couldn’t control.”

Palace Exploring All Options
Parish confirmed the club will explore all possible legal and procedural avenues, including an appeal. However, he urged UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin to intervene directly and overturn the decision.

“We want to believe that UEFA, and Mr. Ceferin in particular, will see the injustice in this and act accordingly. We hope common sense will prevail,” he said.

He added that the ruling puts clubs in an impossible position: “You can’t comply with a rule that’s beyond your control. A minority shareholder can’t be compelled to divest. That shouldn’t cost a club its rightful place in Europe.”

Nottingham Forest’s Position
Parish also addressed the possibility of Nottingham Forest taking Palace’s vacated Europa League spot.

“Forest are a historic club, and I doubt they would want to qualify under such circumstances. Many of their fans have expressed sympathy and said they’d rather not gain access to the Europa League this way. This was our once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” he stated.

A Call for UEFA Reform
The Palace chairman believes this controversy exposes the flaws in UEFA’s multi-club ownership rules and highlights the need for reform.

“UEFA is at a crossroads. Either they enforce a complete ban on multi-club ownership or they find a workable framework. In our case, we’re not even part of such a system, yet we’re the ones paying the price.”

He concluded, “This decision not only damages our club, it sets a dangerous precedent. Football fans across Europe should be concerned.”

Crystal Palace now face the prospect of entering the UEFA Conference League despite achieving European qualification through silverware. The club’s appeal and any potential reversal remain uncertain in the coming weeks.

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