Crystal Palace Dropped to Conference League Over Ownership Conflict

TDT | Manama

Email : editor@newsofbahrain.com

Crystal Palace’s return to European football has hit a major setback. Despite qualifying for the Europa League after winning the FA Cup, the Premier League side has been moved down to the UEFA Conference League due to a multi-club ownership violation.

UEFA ruled that both Crystal Palace and French club Lyon broke the rules on multi-club ownership as of March 1, 2025. Since Lyon finished higher in their league (6th in Ligue 1 vs. Palace’s 12th in the Premier League), Lyon kept their Europa League spot. Palace were dropped a tier.

Both clubs are linked to Eagle Football Group, led by John Textor. Although Textor resigned from Lyon’s board and began selling his stake in Palace, the process wasn’t completed before UEFA’s March deadline.

Textor said he was “stunned” by the ruling, noting the sale began before the deadline and will be completed before the draw. “Now we’ve sold out of a club I love… only to have an off-the-pitch decision ruin an historic season,”  

Palace chairman Steve Parish called it a “terrible injustice,” saying they were being punished over a technicality. “We’re not part of a multi-club setup… this is a ludicrous decision.”

Palace plans to appeal the decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport. If UEFA’s ruling stands, Nottingham Forest, who originally qualified for the Conference League, may be bumped up to the Europa League instead.