Crystal Palace players celebrate with the trophy
Premier League side Crystal Palace have been relegated from the UEFA Europa League to the third-tier UEFA Conference League due to a breach of UEFA’s multi-club ownership rules.
In contrast, French Ligue 1 club Olympique Lyonnais has retained its place in the Europa League, UEFA confirmed on Friday.
Crystal Palace secured Europa League qualification after winning the FA Cup last season, while Lyon finished sixth in Ligue 1 to earn their spot. However, both clubs are linked to the Eagle Football Group — which holds a majority stake in Lyon and also had significant control over Palace through its chairman, John Textor.
UEFA’s Club Financial Control Body (CFCB) had delayed its ruling until after the DNCG, France’s football finance watchdog, ruled on Lyon’s financial issues.
The DNCG had initially relegated Lyon to Ligue 2, but the decision was overturned by its appeals committee on Wednesday — clearing the way for UEFA to assess the multi-club ownership case.
“Consequently, the CFCB First Chamber pursued the assessment of the documentation submitted by Olympique Lyonnais and Crystal Palace and concluded that the clubs breached, as at 1 March 2025, the multi-club ownership criteria,” UEFA stated.
Since both clubs had earned Europa League spots, UEFA gave the nod to Lyon, who had finished higher in their domestic league, with Palace only managing 12th in the Premier League.
Textor later stepped down from Lyon’s board, with Michele Kang taking over as chairwoman and president. In an effort to resolve the conflict, Crystal Palace announced that New York Jets co-owner Robert Wood “Woody” Johnson had signed a legally binding agreement to acquire Eagle Football Holding’s stake in the club — a deal still pending Premier League approval.
Despite these efforts, UEFA ruled that Palace had failed to meet the March 1 deadline to comply with its multi-club ownership regulations.
“Honestly, I am stunned. We did everything possible to separate from the club, as UEFA would ask, with a sale process that began before the deadline, and a sale that will occur well before the draw,” Textor told Reuters.
“Now we have sold out of a club that I love, to help Palace fans continue this dream year, only to have another off-the-pitch decision lay waste to a historic sporting victory.”
UEFA’s rules strictly prohibit individuals or entities from having control, influence, or managerial involvement in more than one club competing in its tournaments.
Crystal Palace may still appeal the ruling at the Court of Arbitration for Sport. If their appeal fails, Nottingham Forest — who finished seventh and originally qualified for the Conference League — could be elevated to the Europa League, assuming they meet the necessary entry criteria. Aston Villa, who placed fifth, and Palace had initially been the two English clubs qualifying for the Europa League.