LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 15: Fans of Crystal Palace protest against the UEFA decision to demote the club from Europa league to the Europa conference league outside Selhurst Park stadium on July 15, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Tom Dulat/Getty Images)
Palace to find out verdict in UEFA appeal over European demotion next month
Crystal Palace will discover the outcome of their appeal against UEFA’s decision to demote them from the Europa League to the Europa Conference League on August 11 (Alan Myers).
The London club filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in July, contesting UEFA’s ruling that they breached multi-club ownership rules.
American investor John Textor, who owned a stake in Palace, is also the majority shareholder of French side Lyon, another team that qualified for next season’s Europa League.
UEFA regulations prohibit clubs under the same ownership or overlapping control from competing in the same European competition.
The European football governing body sanctioned Palace for failing to meet the March 1 deadline to prove a restructuring of ownership influence.
Palace are appealing against UEFA, Lyon, and Premier League rivals Nottingham Forest, who finished seventh last season.
Forest stand to take Palace’s Europa League spot if the ruling stands and have applied pressure to claim the slot.
The Eagles are seeking an annulment of UEFA’s decision and reinstatement in the Europa League in place of Lyon or Forest.
They maintain that Textor did not wield decisive influence over both clubs and argue that their participation does not violate competition rules.
A final ruling from CAS will come no later than August 11, just days after the Europa Conference League play-off draw.
Palace could play those two-legged ties on August 21 and 28 if they are not readmitted. The Europa League group stage begins on September 24.
Meanwhile, Textor has signed an agreement to sell Woody Johnson his 43% stake in the club, worth close to £190 million.
The sale is subject to Premier League and Women’s Super League approval, but it may now free Palace up to play in the Europa League.
The Eagles qualified for the competition thanks to their FA Cup final victory over Manchester City.
