Crystal Palace supporters hit out at UEFA in protest against Europa League demotion
Crystal Palace supporters took to the streets on Tuesday evening to protest UEFA's decision to expel the club from the Europa League.
Led by fan group Holmesdale Fanatics (HF), hundreds marched from Norwood Clocktower to Selhurst Park, voicing their discontent with UEFA's ruling.
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Protesters carried banners including a spoof "Corruption League" logo and a centrepiece reading 'UEFA: Morally Bankrupt. Revoke The Ruling Now.' 'UEFA Maffia' graffiti also appeared near Selhurst Park.
A spokesperson for the HF stood on top of the walls outside the stadium to address the gathered protesters, who then set off pyrotechnics below him.
He called for 'collective action' against 'UEFA's corruption' and added that the governing body would 'bend the rules for clubs like Manchester City'.
(Image: PA) Former Match of the Day host Gary Lineker and Palace's FA Cup-winning captain Joel Ward both helped spread the word on their social media accounts.
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The protest comes a month after fans celebrated Palace's historic FA Cup triumph along the same streets – the situations offer quite the contrast.
How did we get here?
The protest was sparked by UEFA's decision to demote FA Cup holders Crystal Palace to the Conference League for breaching regulations on multi-club ownership.
Eagle Football Holdings, spearheaded by American businessman John Textor, owns a 43% stake in Crystal Palace alongside a majority share of French club Lyon.
With both clubs qualifying for the Europa League, UEFA rules stipulate that clubs owned by the same person or entity cannot compete in the same European competition.
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As a result, Palace will now enter the Conference League qualifying rounds instead of participating in the Europa League league phase, with Nottingham Forest, who finished 7th in the Premier League, taking their spot.
Palace supporters on their march made their feelings towards Textor and Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis clear, chanting: 'F**k UEFA, F**k John Textor, F**k Marinakis.'
Textor is currently finalising the sale of his stake in Crystal Palace to New York Jets owner Woody Johnson.
Where next?
The HF say that the protest is the first of numerous with a 'delegation of lads' planning a trip to UEFA's headquarters in Nyon.
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The group are also fundraising for a display ahead of Crystal Palace's first home game of the season against Nottingham Forest next month.
A petition calling on UEFA to reinstate Crystal Palace in the Europa League has garnered nearly 3,000 signatures since it was launched on Friday.
Palace are exploring legal options, including an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, but hope that senior UEFA officials will reconsider the decision before the matter reaches that stage.
UEFA declined to comment.
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