Crystal Palace will not take part in next season’s UEFA Europa League. This is because they broke UEFA’s rules about one owner having control over two clubs in the same competition.
Palace had earned a place in Europe after winning the FA Cup. But now, they will play in the less popular UEFA Conference League instead.
Nottingham Forest, who finished seventh in the Premier League last season, will replace Palace in the Europa League.
UEFA made the decision after investigating Eagle Football Holdings, the company that owns large shares in both Crystal Palace and French club Lyon. UEFA rules say that two clubs with the same main owner can’t be in the same European tournament.
UEFA also said that Palace can appeal the decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, if they choose to.
Crystal Palace argued that their owner, American businessman John Textor, doesn’t have full control of the club. But UEFA didn’t agree with that explanation.
Meanwhile, Lyon, who finished sixth in the French league, will still keep their Europa League spot. That left Palace out, even though they won the FA Cup.
Earlier, UEFA had asked clubs to fix any ownership problems before March 1, 2025. Palace did not meet that deadline.
Things almost turned around when Lyon was at risk of being dropped from the league due to money problems. If that had happened, Lyon would’ve been removed from European competitions, and Palace could have kept their Europa League place. But Lyon won their case and stayed in the French league, keeping their Europa League spot.
So now, Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest will represent England in the Europa League next season. Crystal Palace will go to the Conference League instead.
