UEFA kicks out Crystal Palace from Europa League, replaces with Nottingham Forest
Crystal Palace have been thrown out of next season’s Europa League after breaching UEFA’s multi-club ownership rules
The Eagles, who earned a slot in Europe by winning the FA Cup, will now drop to the UEFA Conference League.
Nottingham Forest, who finished seventh in the Premier League, are expected to replace them in the Europa League.
UEFA said the decision follows an investigation into Eagle Football Holdings, which owns significant stakes in both Palace and French club Lyon. Under UEFA rules, two clubs controlled by the same owner cannot compete in the same European competition.
“The present decision may be appealed against before the Court of Arbitration for Sport,” UEFA stated.
Palace had argued that American businessman John Textor, who owns Eagle Football Holdings, does not exercise decisive influence at Selhurst Park. But UEFA didn’t buy it.
Interestingly, Lyon — who finished sixth in Ligue 1 — also qualified for the Europa League and will keep their spot. That left Palace on the receiving end, despite their historic FA Cup triumph.
UEFA had earlier given all clubs until March 1, 2025, to sort out any ownership conflicts. Palace failed to meet that deadline.
It gets more dramatic — earlier this week, Lyon won their own appeal against relegation due to financial issues. If that relegation had stood, Lyon would’ve been excluded from Europe, clearing the way for Palace. But with Lyon back in Ligue 1, they stay in the Europa League, and Palace are the casualty.
Now, Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest will represent England in the Europa League, while Palace head to the less glamorous Conference League.