English FA Cup winners, Crystal Palace, have been demoted from the Europa League to the Conference League next season, Europe’s football governing body, Uefa has ruled.
It is understood that Palace have breached multi-club ownership rules as American businessman John Textor owns a stake in the club and is the majority owner of French club Lyon. Lyon have also qualified for the Europa League.
By the decision, Nottingham Forest, who finished seventh in the Premier League last season, could replace Palace in the Europa League.
The ruling is subject to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. It is learnt that Palace are set to do so.
The rules of European football’s governing body state that clubs owned, to a certain threshold of influence, by the same person or entity cannot compete in the same European competition.
Palace missed the March 1 deadline set by Uefa for clubs to show proof of multi-club ownership restructuring.
The Eagles argued Textor does not hold any decisive influence at the club, but Uefa have not accepted the Premier League side’s defence.
