Crystal Palace has officially lost its appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and will play in the UEFA Europa Conference League this season instead of the Europa League.
The Premier League outfit went to the Court of Arbitration of Sport (CAS) on July 22, 2025, hoping to be granted permission to grace the continental competition.
Crystal Palace have now been officially demoted to the UEFA Europa Conference League because their shareholder, John Textor, also holds a majority stake in French club Lyon, which qualified for the Europa League.
Clubs with shared ownership cannot compete in the same tournament, according to UEFA rules.
Textor failed to place his Palace shares in a blind trust by the March 1 deadline, which led to the club’s disqualification from the Europa League.
John Textor eventually sold his stake in the club to Woody Johnson, owner of the New York Jets NFL franchise.
John Textor’s failure to meet UEFA’s deadline has led to increased scrutiny of his role and influence at the club.
Despite winning the FA Cup and recently defeating Liverpool to claim the Community Shield, Palace’s European ambitions have been dealt a major blow.
Crystal Palace’s chairman has called the ruling a terrible injustice, comparing it to winning the lottery and being denied the prize.
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UEFA ruled that Olympique Lyonnais, also owned by Textor, would retain its Europa League spot due to a higher domestic finish (6th in Ligue 1 vs Palace’s 12th in the Premier League).
Consequences
Crystal Palace has also missed a big financial boost by being relegated to the Conference League.
The estimated total revenue loss faced by Crystal Palace is Ksh649.5 million, including the group stage prize money, performance bonuses, broadcasting revenue, and matchday incomes.
This financial shortfall may impact Crystal Palace’s transfer budget, wage structure, and commercial strategy for the upcoming season.
Club officials have expressed disappointment over the ruling, citing it as a technicality that undermines their sporting achievements.
The Conference League features weaker opposition compared to the Europa League, which could affect Palace’s competitive edge and prestige.
Conference League matches are typically scheduled on Thursdays, which will strain Crystal Palace’s squad rotation and affect Premier League performance.
The failure to qualify for the Europa League leaves the players disappointed or demotivated, especially those who were looking forward to Europa League exposure.
Lower-tier European competition could also reduce the club’s appeal to sponsors and commercial partners.
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Fewer high-profile matches also mean lower ticket sales and hospitality income for Crystal Palace despite their huge dependence on the finances.
Replacement in the Europa League
Crystal Palace’s place in the 2025–26 UEFA Europa League will be taken by Nottingham Forest, having finished 7th in the Premier League, just outside the usual European qualification spots.
Their owner, Evangelos Marinakis, had proactively placed his shares in a blind trust to comply with UEFA’s multi-club ownership rules, as he also owns Olympiakos.
Forest had alerted UEFA earlier this year about Crystal Palace’s potential breach of these rules, which contributed to UEFA’s investigation and eventual ruling.
It marks a significant milestone in their post-promotion journey, reinforcing their status as a strong upcoming Premier League club.
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