Crystal Palace was demoted to the Conference League after the UEFA rule on the case of Multiple Lyon property
Crystal Palace was downgraded from the Europa League to the Conference League for the 2025-26 season following a UEFA decision on the issue of multi-club property involving Eagles and Lyon.
Palace qualified for the Europa League after the superb of Manchester City during the FA Cup final in May to capture its first major trophy.
However, they and Lyon both belong to the American businessman John Textor. Lyon also qualified for the Europa League after finishing sixth in Ligue 1, UEFA rules prohibiting two clubs with shared property from playing in the same competition.
Lyon’s Lyon’s demotion from Ligue 1 to Ligue 2 last month seemed to have made the question of multi-club property. The French club called on the decision of the National Management Control Directorate (DNCG), but agreed with UEFA that they would not play in the Europa League if they lost the call.
However, their call succeeded, erase Lyon to play both in Ligue 1 and in the Europa League and putting Palace in danger.
Textor concluded an agreement to sell his participation in Palace to Woody Johnson, owner of the NFL New York Jets last month. However, this agreement has not yet been approved by the Premier League.
And this lack of ratification was expensive for Palace, UEFA giving them a demotion which means that their place in the Europa League will probably go to Nottingham Forest, which qualified for the conference league thanks to a seventh place in the Premier League.
A UEFA declaration said: “The first CFCB chamber had opened procedures against Crystal Palace and Olympique Lyonnais due to a potential conflict with the multi-club property rule provided for in article 5 of the UEFA club competitions.
“On July 9, 2025, the French Appeal body of the Financial Control Authority (DNCG) decided not to relegate Olympique Lyonnais to Ligue 2.. Consequently, and following an assessment of the CFCB of all the other relevant conditions included in the settlement agreement, Olympique Lyonnais will not be excluded from the competitions of the UEFA club 2025-26.
“Consequently, the first CFCB chamber continued to assess the documentation submitted by Olympique Lyonnais and Crystal Palace and concluded that the clubs had violated, on March 1, 2025, the multi-club ownership criteria provided for in art 5.01 of the regulations of the UEFA club competition.
“For this reason, and in accordance with the provisions established in art. 5.02, 5.03 and 5.04 of the UEFA club competition regulations, the first CFCB chamber decided: to accept the admission of Olympique Lyonnais to the admission of Crystal Palace 2025-26 2025-26 UEFA Conference League. »»
Palace can appeal the decision at the Sports Arbitration Court.
