“Impossible to receive a fair hearing”: Crystal Palace slam UEFA with strong statement after Europa League demotion KIK BALL

Crystal Palace have strongly criticised UEFA for their demotion from the Europa League to the Conference League, claiming that it was “impossible to get a fair hearing”.

The Eagles, who beat Liverpool on penalties to win the Community Shield last weekend, initially qualified for the Europa League after winning the FA Cup in May – the club’s first major honour in their 120-year professional history.

However, UEFA announced on July 11 that Oliver Glasner’s side had been demoted to the Conference League after breaching multi-club ownership rules, with American businessman John Textor owning a stake in both Palace and Ligue 1 side Lyon, who have qualified for the Europa League.

Textor’s Eagle Football have since sold their 43% stake in Palace to Woody Johnson, but UEFA determined that as of March 1, the American had decisive influence at both Palace and Lyon.

Palace submitted an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against UEFA’s decision and Eagles chairman Steve Parish is said to have attended a 10-hour hearing in front of CAS judges in Lausanne on Friday.

However, it was confirmed by CAS on Monday that Palace lost their appeal and will therefore be forced to drop down in the Conference League playoffs, with Glasner’s side to face either Fredrikstad or FC Midtjylland on August 21.

At a time when we should be celebrating our victory in the Community Shield at Wembley, the decision by UEFA and followed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport shows that sporting merit is rendered meaningless.

Full statement ?#CPFC

— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) August 12, 2025

Crystal Palace statement in full criticising UEFA after Europa League demotion

In response to their demotion from the Europa League, Crystal Palace have released a strongly-worded statement on their official website in which they criticise UEFA.

The statement read: “At a time when we should be celebrating our victory in the Community Shield at Wembley, the decision by UEFA and followed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport shows that sporting merit is rendered meaningless.

“When we won the FA Cup against Manchester City on that momentous day in May, our manager and players earned the right to play Europa League football.

“We have been denied that opportunity.

“It appears that certain clubs, organisations and individuals have a unique privilege and power.

“This growing and unhealthy influence has shattered the hopes and dreams of Crystal Palace supporters, and does not bode well for aspirational teams all over Europe competing to progress when rules and sanctions are unevenly applied in the most flagrant way.

“Multi-club structures hide behind the charade of a “blind trust” while clubs such as ours, who have no connection to another club whatsoever, are prevented from playing in the same competition.

Crystal Palace “continue to take legal advice on the next steps” after Europa League demotion

“To compound the injustice, clubs that appear to have huge informal arrangements with each other are also allowed to participate and even possibly play against each other.

“While we respect the CAS tribunal members, the process is designed to severely restrict and, in our case, make it almost impossible to receive a fair hearing.

“The denial of all disclosure requests to obtain correspondence between the relevant parties, the refusal to allow witness testimony from those involved, and the general lack of formality and respect for law mean decisions cannot be properly challenged, leading to pre-determined outcomes.

“UEFA’s decision has wider implications for the governance of the sport. A combination of poorly conceived regulations and their unequal application means our brilliant fans will be deprived of the chance to watch this team compete in the Europa League for the first time in our history.

“This should be a turning point for football.

“UEFA must fulfil its mandate to pass coherent rules which are properly communicated and applied, with reasonable cure periods to resolve uncertainty and consistent sanctions, treating all clubs equally with a proper appeal process.

“The European Court of Justice has made it clear that rulings similar to this will be under greater scrutiny from national courts in future. Only then will fairness and due process be granted to every team.

“Although we continue to take legal advice on the next steps, we will compete in the Conference League with the same determination and will to win that characterises this incredible club.”

Nottingham Forest, who travel to Selhurst Park for Palace’s first Premier League home fixture of the 2025-26 season on August 24, are expected to take the Eagles’ place in the Europa League after finishing seventh in the top flight last term.

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