Europa League 2025/26: UEFA Removes Premier League Side Crystal Palace From Competition
- Crystal Palace’s long-awaited return to European football takes an unexpected turn as their Europa League dreams are shattered
- Another Premier League team now steps in to claim the coveted spot ahead of the 2025/26 Europa League campaign
- Crystal Palace still holds hope through an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport despite the massive setback
UEFA has confirmed that Crystal Palace will be relegated from the 2025/26 UEFA Europa League to the UEFA Conference League in a surprising decision that has left Premier League fans buzzing.
The news comes as part of a complex situation involving ownership regulations that have rocked the Premier League club.
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With their spot in Europe now hanging in the balance, Palace will have to shift their focus to the upcoming Conference League, where they will face different challenges than those in the prestigious Europa League.
Nottingham Forest to play in the Europea League
According to Inside World Football, Nottingham Forest will now take Crystal Palace’s place in the Europa League next season.
The Premier League side, which narrowly missed out on European competition last season, will have a chance to test themselves against some of Europe’s best teams in the second-tier continental competition.
Crystal Palace’s European dreams shattered
Crystal Palace’s hopes of competing in the Europa League next season were dashed by this recent UEFA ruling. The club had long been in the hunt for a European place, earning their spot after defeating Manchester City in the 2025 FA Cup final.
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Palace will still compete in the continent’s third-tier competition, the Conference League, which offers clubs a pathway to the more prestigious tournaments, although it’s a far cry from the glamour and prestige of the Europa League.
Can Crystal Palace appeal the UEFA decision at CAS?
According to Football365, the club retains the option to appeal the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), a route that could see their situation reviewed and potentially reversed.
If successful, Crystal Palace would be restored to their original Europa League spot for the 2025/26 season, offering them another opportunity to compete in Europe’s second-best competition.
For now, though, the club must prepare for life in the Conference League, but this decision represent a devastating reverse for the Premier League outfit.
Why has UEFA removed Crystal Palace from the Europa League?
UEFA has kicked out Crystal Palace from the 2025/26 Europa League due to a reported violation of UEFA’s regulations regarding multi-club ownership.
UEFA's strict rules prohibit the same individual or group from holding stakes in multiple clubs competing in the same European competition.
Despite efforts to resolve the issue, including a sale of shares in Crystal Palace to American investor Woody Johnson, the breach was deemed to have occurred before the UEFA deadline.
As a result, Crystal Palace’s participation in the Europa League was rejected, and the club was relegated to the Conference League.
This decision has sparked a significant debate about UEFA's ownership rules and their impact on the European competition landscape.
Man City vs. Crystal Palace FA Cup final prediction
YEN.com.gh earlier previewed the 2025 FA Cup final between Pep Guardiola's Manchester City and Oliver Glasner's Crystal Palace on May 17 of this year.
The analysis included a viral prediction of North Wales' mystical duo, Mystic Moo and Psychic Soo.
Source: YEN.com.gh
