In a devastating blow to Crystal Palace and its supporters, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has upheld UEFA's decision to demote the club from the Europa League to the Europa Conference League.
The ruling, announced today, confirms that the Eagles will not participate in the second-tier European competition they earned by winning the FA Cup.
This outcome is a bitter pill to swallow for chairman Steve Parish and manager Oliver Glasner, who had both expressed confidence in a successful appeal.
The dispute stems from a breach of UEFA's multi-club ownership rules.
The governing body determined that American businessman John Textor held stakes in both Crystal Palace and French side Olympique Lyonnais, with both clubs qualifying for the Europa League.
UEFA regulations prevent clubs with the same ownership from competing in the same competition.
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Despite Palace's arguments that Textor lacked decisive influence and that the club had not operated as part of a multi-club model, CAS has sided with UEFA.
The Financial and Sporting Impact
The decision carries significant financial implications for the club, with reports suggesting a revenue loss of up to £20 million.
This unexpected demotion could also impact the club's ability to retain key players, with stars like Eberechi Eze, Marc Guehi, and Jean-Philippe Mateta previously linked with moves away.
The club's transfer plans for the remainder of the summer window will now likely be reshaped as they prepare for the Europa Conference League.
For their part, Nottingham Forest will be promoted to the Europa League, taking the spot originally won by Palace.
Forest had previously raised concerns with UEFA over Palace's eligibility, and the CAS ruling now confirms their place in the more prestigious competition.
This ruling concludes a month-long saga that has seen Palace fans protest the decision, with chairman Steve Parish labelling it "one of the greatest injustices" in the history of European football.
While the club's legal fight is over, the disappointment and frustration among the Selhurst Park faithful will linger as they now turn their attention to a new European campaign in the third-tier competition.
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