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Crystal Palace will compete in the Conference League this season, after their legal battle to secure a place in the Europa League ended in defeat.
Palace went to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) after UEFA's Club Financial Control Body (CFCB) ruled that they must drop down to the Conference League due to multi-club ownership restrictions. UEFA noted that Palace had not put arrangements in place before March 1 to comply with the rules.
Oliver Glasner's side appealed against the decision but CAS ruled on Monday that it should stand and Palace must go into the qualifying round for the Conference League instead. It means that Nottingham Forest, who finished seventh in the Premier League last season, have been promoted for a place in the Europa League.
The ruling is a significant financial blow to Palace, who could lose up to £20million from not competing in UEFA's second-tier competition. Palace are expected to study the full findings, though it's understood that the CAS full written reasons won't be made public for a substantial amount of time.
There is a chance, however, that Palace could launch another legal claim for compensation. The club believe they had a strong case and that it would be "crazy" for them be excluded from competing in the Europa League due to multi-club ownership rules, according to co-owner and chairman Steve Parish.
They argued that ex-shareholder John Textor, who is the owner of Lyon - also in the Europa League - sold his stake in Palace last month, and that he didn't have decisive influence at the south London club.
Parish attended a 10-hour hearing in front of three CAS judges in Lausanne on Friday. However, he has become unsuccessful in his bid to overturn the initial decision and Palace will be in the Conference League.
A statement from CAS on Monday morning read: "Lausanne, 11 August 2025 – The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has dismissed an appeal byCrystal Palace FC (CPFC) against UEFA, Nottingham Forest FC and Olympique Lyonnais (OL)concerning a decision by UEFA to remove CPFC from the UEFA Europa League 2025/2026 due to abreach of UEFA multi club ownership regulations. As a result, CPFC will be admitted to compete in the UEFA Conference League 2025/2026.
"The appeal sought to annul the decision by the UEFA Club Financial Control Body on 11 July 2025 which found CPFC and OL non-compliant with multi club ownership regulations. Alongside the annulment of the decision, CPFC requested readmission to the UEFA Europa League with Nottingham Forest or OL's admission rejected.
"An in-person hearing took place at CAS headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland on 8 August 2025. The CAS Panel was composed of Prof. Luigi Fumagalli as President (Italy), Mr Manfred P. Nan (the Netherlands) and Mr Olivier Carrard (Switzerland).
"After considering the evidence, the Panel found that John Textor, founder of Eagle Football Holdings,had shares in CPFC and OL and was a Board member with decisive influence over both clubs at thetime of UEFA’s assessment date. The Panel also dismissed the argument by CPFC that they received unfair treatment in comparison to Nottingham Forest and OL. The Panel considered that the UEFA Regulations are clear and do not provide flexibility to clubs that are non-compliant on the assessment date, as CPFC claimed.
"This was an expedited procedure, with an operative decision rendered two and a half weeks after the appeal, filed on 21 July 2025. Unless Parties request confidentiality, a full Award (with grounds) will be made available on the CAS website in due course."
Palace now face a two-legged qualifying round play-off against the loser of the Europa League third qualifying round tie between Norwegian side FC Midtjylland and Fredrikstad FK later this month.
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