Palace fans protest Uefa's Conference League demotion
Crystal Palace fans have taken to the streets in protest after UEFA's controversial decision to relegate the club from the Europa League to the Conference League due to multi-club ownership rules.
The passionate demonstration saw hundreds of supporters march to Selhurst Park, waving banners and voicing their frustration with European football's governing body. This comes after Palace earned their first-ever Europa League spot by winning the historic FA Cup in May.
The Ownership Conflict
The controversy stems from American investor John Textor's dual ownership stakes. While holding shares in Crystal Palace, Textor maintains majority control of French club Lyon - who also qualified for the Europa League. UEFA regulations prohibit clubs with shared ownership above certain thresholds from competing in the same European tournament.
Missed Deadline and Ongoing Resolution
Key details in the case include:
- UEFA set a March 1, 2025 deadline for ownership restructuring compliance
- Palace failed to meet this requirement
- Textor is currently negotiating to sell his Palace stake to New York Jets owner Woody Johnson
As a result, Nottingham Forest (who finished 7th in the Premier League) will take Palace's Europa League spot, while the Eagles face Conference League participation unless their expected appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport succeeds.
Fan and Club Outrage
The decision has sparked significant backlash:
"It's an injustice over administrative technicalities. We earned our place by winning the cup - there should be no question about our qualification," said Nick Philpot of the Red and Blue Review podcast during the protest.
Club chairman Steve Parish condemned UEFA's ruling as "a terrible injustice" and "a bad day for football," emphasizing that the punishment unfairly impacts the entire club and its loyal supporters.
BBC Sport has reached out to UEFA for comment on the ongoing situation.
