Palace Euro Demotion 'biggest Injustice In History Of Football'

Crystal Palace president Steve Parish says nan determination to region Crystal Palace from nan Europa League adjacent play is "the biggest injustice successful nan history of football".

The Eagles were ordered connected Friday to compete successful nan Conference League by Uefa for breaching multi-club ownership rules.

American businessman John Textor owns a liking successful Palace and is besides nan mostly proprietor of French nine Lyon, who person besides qualified for nan Europa League.

"We're devastated," Parish told Sky Sports. "It's a bad time for football. It's a unspeakable injustice. I do judge cipher want to spot this. I don't deliberation Uefa wants to spot this. We've been locked retired of a European title connected nan astir ridiculous technicality. Supporters of each clubs should beryllium devastated for us."

Nottingham Forest, who vanished seventh successful nan Premier League past season, could switch FA Cup winners Palace successful nan Europa League.

Uefa said nan Eagles could entreaty its ruling pinch nan Court of Arbitration for Sport and Parish said they are group to do so.

The rules of European football's governing assemblage authorities clubs owned, to a definite period of influence, by nan aforesaid personification aliases entity cannot compete successful nan aforesaid European competition.

Uefa's rules group a deadline of 1 March 2025 to show impervious of multi-club ownership restructuring - a deadline which Palace missed.

Palace based on Textor does not clasp immoderate decisive power astatine nan club, but nan Premier League side's defence was not accepted.

"Everyone knows we're not portion of a multi-club set-up," added Parish. "We don't stock immoderate staff. We're caught up successful a norm that wasn't put location for us. I don't understand why nan sheet has travel to nan conclusion they person done. I deliberation we've shown John had nary power complete our club.

"This is simply a ludicrous decision. We will inquire nan entreaty tribunal to perceive to our argument."

Lyon, who besides qualified for nan Europa League, return precedence complete Palace because of their higher convention decorativeness successful nan erstwhile campaign.

The seven-time French champions vanished sixth successful Ligue 1, pinch Palace 12th successful nan Premier League but qualifying for European title by winning nan FA Cup.

Earlier this week, Lyon won their entreaty against relegation from Ligue 1 aft they were demoted for their financial state.

Had their relegation been upheld, they had agreed pinch Uefa to beryllium excluded from nan Europa League, clearing nan measurement for Palace to play successful nan competition.

English shot has 2 allocated Europa League spots, pinch Aston Villa securing nan different aft finishing sixth successful nan table, a constituent clear of Forest.

Palace were immense underdogs to triumph nan FA Cup, beating Manchester City 1-0, and their joyousness astatine qualifying for Europe for a first clip quickly turned to unease erstwhile nan nine realised their spot whitethorn beryllium successful doubt.

Uefa's regulations astir multi-club ownership and European competitions are successful spot to forestall collusion.

In nan governing body's rulebook, a nine is required to beryllium they are not "simultaneously progressive successful immoderate capacity whatsoever successful nan management, administration, and/or sporting capacity of much than 1 nine participating successful a Uefa nine competition".

Textor's Eagle Football owns a 43% liking successful Palace and a 77% liking successful Lyon, but nan Premier League broadside argued they are an entity that operates wholly independently.

Forest asked for clarity from Uefa successful June connected Palace's position successful Europe. Their proprietor Evangelos Marinakis, who controls Greek broadside Olympiakos, avoided regulations astir multi-club ownership by diluting his control of nan Premier League side.

Textor took akin steps to thief Palace's prospects by agreeing to waste his 43% stake to New York Jets proprietor Woody Johnson successful June, but nan woody has yet to beryllium completed.

Textor besides later resigned from his activity position astatine Lyon.

Uefa delayed their determination connected Palace's ruling until nan result of Lyon's home case, while Parish's broadside indicated they would almost surely motorboat a ineligible conflict if their Europa League spot was revoked.