The Community Shield title is what the biggest clubs celebrate as a good start to the season, but is often forgotten when the first kick-off in the Premier League takes place. For Crystal Palace, this is something completely different. The FA Cup title with a win against Manchester City was historic for the London club, when this is followed up with victory in the Community Shield final on Sunday against last season’s almost unbeatable Liverpool, then there is a big celebration at Palace. Then came the awkward message.
The celebrations probably went into the late hours of the night, but the Crystal Palace players and supporters woke up to confirmation that their appeal had been rejected, it will definitely not be Europa League games the team had earned.
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With the FA Cup title, it qualifies for a Europa League ticket, but in mid-July, UEFA decided to send Palace down to the Conference League due to rules on ownership in several clubs.
They were relegated because of John Textor, who owned parts of Palace and is also the majority owner of Lyon. Textor has since sold his share of Palace, but that was after UEFA’s deadline, which was back in early March.
Both clubs qualified for the Europa League, but Lyon finished highest in the table, and therefore it was Palace who suffered. Palace appealed the decision to CAS, which on Monday rejected the appeal.
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In CAS’s ruling, they write that Textor has decisive influence in both clubs, and UEFA’s rules therefore do not allow the two teams to play in the same tournament. CAS believes that the rules are clear, and there is therefore nothing to be done.
Hard to digest for a celebratory Palace crowd.
