Crystal Palace have been demoted from the Europa League to the Conference League next season, Uefa have ruled.
The governing body’s decision stems from Palace breaching its multi-club ownership rules and Uefa said the Eagles could appeal its ruling with the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Nottingham Forest, who finished seventh in the Premier League last season, could replace FA Cup winners Palace in the Europa League.
Eagle Football Holdings – owned by American businessman John Textor – holds stakes in Palace and Lyon, with Uefa rules stating that clubs owned, to a certain threshold of influence, by the same person or entity cannot compete in the same European competition.
Uefa’s rules set a deadline of 1 March 2025 to show proof of multi-club ownership restructuring – a deadline which Palace missed.
Palace argued Textor does not hold any decisive influence at the club, but Uefa have not accepted the Premier League side’s defence.