The Conference League will not include Crystal Palace in its upcoming season, a determination reached by a UEFA panel following investigations into the club’s adherence to regulations concerning multi-club ownership.
The Europa League may instead see Nottingham Forest participate, filling the vacancy left by the FA Cup champions. Palace has indicated intentions to contest the assessment rendered by the first chamber of the club financial control body (CFCB). The bylaws of UEFA stipulate a clear demarcation: no individual or entity may possess controlling interests in multiple clubs simultaneously participating in the same UEFA competition.
Eagle Football, captained by American entrepreneur John Textor, holds the majority shares in Crystal Palace while concurrently owning Lyon. Lyon’s petition to remain in Ligue 1 after initial relegation was recently approved, ensuring their qualification for a Europa League spot earned via league standing. This outcome precipitated a deliberation by UEFA’s CFCB. Had Lyon been unsuccessful in overturning their relegation, a prior agreement dictated their non-participation in European tournaments.
While Palace maintained that Textor’s influence within the club remained inconsequential, UEFA’s analysis contradicted this assertion. Textor is reportedly in negotiations to transfer his ownership stake to Woody Johnson, owner of the New York Jets, although the Premier League has yet to formally approve the transaction. Furthermore, The Eagles failed to meet the stipulated March 1 deadline for demonstrating modifications pertaining to multi-club ownership arrangements, citing the improbable nature of their European qualification at the time.
At that juncture, under the guidance of Oliver Glasner, the squad occupied the 12th position in the Premier League standings, having secured a 3-1 victory against Millwall in their FA Cup fifth-round encounter on March 1. To claim the inaugural major trophy in the club’s history, Palace faced a daunting path, requiring successive triumphs over Fulham (away), Aston Villa, and Manchester City at Wembley Stadium.
It is anticipated that Nottingham Forest will inherit the Europa League spot. Their prior seventh-place finish in the Premier League had initially positioned them for a Conference League season.
