Crystal Palace Football Club’s hopes of competing in the 2025–26 UEFA Europa League have been dashed following a legally binding verdict delivered today by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
The neutral tribunal upheld a UEFA decision that found the club in breach of multi-club ownership regulations, resulting in their demotion to the UEFA Conference League. The fallout from the ruling promises both financial and reputational repercussions for the FA Cup winners.
The saga traces back to Palace’s triumphant FA Cup victory over Manchester City on 17 May 2025, a landmark moment in the club’s history that secured their first major trophy and an automatic berth into the Europa League.
However, UEFA’s Club Financial Control Body moved swiftly on 11 July, sanctioning the club for violating regulations governing multi-club ownership.
At the heart of the controversy was John Textor, who held significant stakes in both Crystal Palace and French side Olympique Lyonnais—both of which had qualified for the same European competition.
Despite Textor having sold his 43 percent stake in Palace to Woody Johnson by late July, CAS ruled that he had wielded “decisive influence” over both clubs at the time of UEFA’s 1 March compliance assessment.
Palace maintained that they had been unfairly singled out and pointed to similar scenarios, such as Nottingham Forest’s fate under owner Evangelos Marinakis, who was allowed to comply via a blind trust—even though his ownership also overlapped with Olympiakos.
CAS rejected this line of argument, emphasizing the unwavering nature of UEFA’s regulations and the lack of discretion afforded to leniency.
In light of the ruling, Nottingham Forest are expected to be elevated into the Europa League, while Crystal Palace will now enter the Europa Conference League, beginning with a two-legged play-off against the loser of the qualifier between Fredrikstad and Midtjylland.
Reaction from within the club was immediate and impassioned. Chairman Steve Parish, speaking after Palace secured the Community Shield against Liverpool, described the decision as a “travesty of justice,” dismissing the notion that Textor had ruled the club and promising to explore all further legal options and potential compensation mechanisms.
The financial cost of missing out on Europa League participation is estimated to run as high as £20 million—a significant blow for widespread strategic and squad planning.
Goalkeeper Dean Henderson also voiced his frustration, warning that the demotion would “devalue the competition” and emphasized the unfairness of denying Palace a place in the Europa League, especially after their on-field success had earned them their initial spot.
On the sporting front, manager Oliver Glasner has been particularly critical of the ongoing uncertainty affecting the club’s ability to strengthen the squad this summer.
Palace have so far only secured the acquisitions of goalkeeper Walter Benítez and wing-back Borna Sosa, while injury concerns loom over key players like Eddie Nketiah and Chadi Riad.
Glasner, whose own contract is set to expire this season, emphasized the need for meaningful reinforcements to remain competitive across multiple competitions and hinted that the appeal outcome may further influence his future at the club.