

Crystal Palace bumped from Europa League to Conference League over John Textor ownership conflict with Lyon
Crystal Palace bumped from Europa League to Conference League over John Textor ownership conflict with Lyon

Crystal Palace has been relegated to the Conference League after breaches of Multi-Club retention of title, has ruled a UEFA panel.
Nottingham Forest could take the place of the FA Cup winners in the Europa League of next season, although Palace is expected to appeal against the decision of the Senate of the Club Financial Control Body (CFCB). UEFA rules state that two clubs that play in the same competition cannot become owned by the same entity, fully or for a certain threshold.
Eagle Football, owned by the American businessman John Textor, are the largest shareholders in Crystal Palace and also own Lyon, the French side whose attraction to prevent relegation of Ligue 1 was successful earlier this week. That ensured that they could take the Europa League place for which they qualified through their competition and forced the UEFA CFCB to make a decision. If Lyon’s relegation was maintained, it was agreed that they would not participate in European competition.
Palace argued that Textor had no significant influence on the club, but UEFA concluded differently. Textor is selling his interest to New York Jets -owner Woody Johnson, but the deal is not ratified by the Premier League. The Eagles had also missed the deadline of 1 March to show a proof of restructuring around Multi-Club ownership, although they can point to how unlikely their qualification was for Europe.
At the time, the side of Oliver Glasner was 12th in the Premier League table and beat Millwall 3-1 on 1 March in their FA Cup fifth round draw. In order to secure the first large piece of silverware in their club’s history palace, Fulham should leave before he would overcome Aston Villa and Manchester City at Wembley Stadium.
Their Europa League place is expected to be taken by Nottingham Forest, whose seventh -placed Premier League -Finish should be rewarded with a season in the Conference League.
Premier League,Football