Crystal Palace has issued an explosive rebuke following UEFA and the Court of Arbitration for Sport’s (CAS) rejection of their appeal to retain a spot in the Europa League. Despite clinching the FA Cup in May—and thereby earning qualification for the Europa League—the club has been relegated to the lower-tier Conference League due to a breach of multi-club ownership (MCO) rules .
In their statement, Palace blasted UEFA’s decision as a “charade,” arguing that sporting merit has been rendered meaningless. They accused UEFA of unfairly favouring clubs with informal ownership ties—namely Manchester City (and their satellite Girona) and Manchester United (and their link to Nice), both of whom navigated around rules via “blind trusts” .
The club lambasted the opaque and inconsistent regulatory environment, highlighting that they were not properly informed of leniencies or extensions afforded to others and that compliance deadlines were poorly communicated. UEFA’s failure to grant reasonable warnings or an equitable cure period, they argued, further undermines confidence in football governance .
Moreover, Palace sharply criticised CAS, asserting that the appeal process denied them due process by rejecting crucial evidence and witness testimony—essentially limiting their chance for a fair hearing . The club claims this systemic flaw disproportionately affects ambitious clubs like theirs who seek upward mobility in European competition.
Palace also drew attention to broader implications: they warned that allowing exceptions for clubs with shadow ownership arrangements risks skewing the competitive balance, creating an elite that plays by a different set of rules. In contrast, “aspirational teams all over Europe” are penalised despite playing strictly by the rules .
As a result of UEFA’s decision, Nottingham Forest—who complied with the rules—will take Palace’s Europa League place, while the Eagles face a potential £20 million financial hit and will now begin their European journey in the Conference League .
Despite the setback, Crystal Palace declared they will explore further legal options, including seeking compensation and judicial review, while pledging to compete in the Conference League with determination. They also urged UEFA to undertake governance reforms: clearer communication, fairer application of rules, and truly equitable appeal mechanisms across the board .
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