Crystal Palace has been relegated several times throughout Premier League history, and won its first ever major trophy in May when it stunned Manchester City in the FA Cup final. The win secured the team’s place next season in the Europa League, the second-highest level of European football that guarantees more revenue, eyeballs, and prestige.
But Crystal Palace’s spot in the Europa League was rescinded by UEFA Friday, culminating months of uncertainty for the British club over multi-club ownership rules.
Crystal Palace’s former owner, John Textor, also sat on the board of Olympique Lyonnais, also known simply as Lyon. The French club also qualified for the Europa League next season, but Textor’s involvement in both clubs meant only one could participate. UEFA limits clubs with shared ownership that has “decisive influence” from playing in the same continental competition during the same season.
Palace and Textor had projected confidence in recent weeks. Olympique Lyonnais was relegated to the second level of French soccer, Ligue 2, over financial irregularities. But after a successful appeal earlier this week, the French club found its way back to Ligue 1—and the Europa League.
In recent months, Textor has limited his involvement in both clubs. He sold his 43% stake in Crystal Palace to New York Jets owner Woody Johnson in June. Later that month, Lyon announced he had stepped down as CEO and from the board of directors, transferring control to Michele Kang, who owns the women’s team OL Lyonnes.
But UEFA said those moves came too late. The organization ruled that all ownership changes needed to happen before March 1 to be in place for the next season, and has not accepted Palace’s argument that Textor didn’t have “significant influence” over the club. Olympique Lyonnais gets the nod over Crystal Palace because they had a higher league position last season than the English club.
Crystal Palace will still get to play in European competition next season through the UEFA Conference League, one step down from Europa, per Friday’s ruling. Nottingham Forest could take Palace’s spot in the Europa League after finishing seventh in the Premier League table. Aston Villa, which finished sixth in the Premier League, will also compete in Europa.
Palace, as expected, is planning to appeal UEFA’s decision. That case will be handled by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
