Without a single ball kicked in anger, Crystal Palace have suffered their first “relegation” in more than a decade, as UEFA, football’s European governing body, announced that the FA Cup-winners were being bumped out of its second-tier competition, the Europa League, and down to its Conference League.
The decision was reached because of UEFA’s rules intended to deter multi-club ownership, and because of former Palace co-owner John Textor’s involvement with French club Lyon.
UEFA ruled that Palace can not participate in the same competition as Lyon.Until last month, Textor owned shares in both clubs. Lyon, who had faced possible financial sanctions from the French football authorities, were cleared to play in the Europa League earlier this week.
The 2025-2026 season is to be the first time that Crystal Palace have played in mainstream European competition. The Conference League is UEFA’s third-tier competition, which was won this year by Chelsea.
Palace are expected to appeal the decision via the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Palace argue that Textor did not have overall control of the club. The American recently sold his 44% stake in Crystal Palace to New York Jets owner, and friend of Donald Trump, Woody Johnson.
Textor has been a reluctant part of Palace’s success story for the past year or more.
Johnson is paying £190million for Textor’s share of Crystal Palace, which values the FA Cup-holders as worth £423million.
“The 78-year-old, who has owned the Jets since 2000 and missed out on buying Chelsea in 2022 after making a $2billion offer, must pass the Premier League’s owners’ and directors’ test before he can complete the purchase,” The Grauniad reported last month.
“It is understood that with Palace under pressure from UEFA to comply with its regulations on multi-club ownership, the league is expected to act swiftly to aid their cause.”
Textor paid £90million for a 40% stake in Crystal Palace in 2021, but has since invested about £180million in the club.
Read more: Parish’s position in jeopardy as Textor stages a Palace coup
Read more: We’re South London and very, very proud of our FA Cup team
Read more: A dream becomes reality: Wembley shook and it was beautiful
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