Crystal Palace’s post-Wembley celebrations have been cut short after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled to remove them from the 2025-26 Europa League over a breach of UEFA’s multi-club ownership rules.
The decision came just days after the Eagles stunned Premier League champions Liverpool in a dramatic penalty shootout to win the FA Community Shield at Wembley.
CAS found that Palace owner John Textor, through Eagle Football Holdings, simultaneously held shares and “decisive influence” over both Palace and French club Olympique Lyon at the time UEFA conducted its eligibility checks.
Under UEFA rules, no individual or entity can control more than one club in the same European competition. The regulation is designed to prevent conflicts of interest, collusion, or unfair competitive advantage.
Although Textor has since resigned from Lyon’s board and sold Eagle Football’s stake in Palace to New York Jets co-owner Robert “Woody” Johnson, CAS determined that these changes occurred after UEFA’s official assessment date. As a result, the ownership breach still stood when decisions on European participation were made.
Because Lyon finished sixth in Ligue 1 and Palace ended 12th in the Premier League, Lyon took the higher-ranking slot in the Europa League.
Reports from Sky Sports indicate that Nottingham Forest are expected to replace Palace in the competition, filling the open English allocation.
PALACE’S DEFENCE AND NEXT STEPS
Palace argued they were treated unfairly compared to other clubs in similar situations, citing cases involving Nottingham Forest and Lyon. However, CAS rejected this claim, stating that the evidence supported UEFA’s initial assessment.
The South London club is now considering further legal avenues, though overturning the decision at this stage would be challenging given the competition’s imminent start.
The case highlights the increasing scrutiny over multi-club ownership in European football, a trend that has grown as investors acquire stakes in multiple teams across different leagues. UEFA has signalled that it will continue the strict enforcement of these rules to preserve the integrity of its competitions.
For Crystal Palace, the ruling not only ends their European ambitions for the season but also underscores how off-field governance can have as much impact on success as results on the pitch.
– Ends