Palace Euro demotion 'biggest injustice in history of football'
The Eagles were ordered on Friday to compete in the Conference League by Uefa for breaching multi-club ownership rules.
Advertisement
American businessman John Textor owns a stake in Palace and is also the majority owner of French club Lyon, who have also qualified for the Europa League.
"We're devastated," Parish told Sky Sports. "It's a bad day for football. It's a terrible injustice. I do believe nobody want to see this. I don't think Uefa wants to see this. We've been locked out of a European competition on the most ridiculous technicality. Supporters of all clubs should be devastated for us."
Nottingham Forest, who finished seventh in the Premier League last season, could replace FA Cup winners Palace in the Europa League.
Uefa said the Eagles could appeal its ruling with the Court of Arbitration for Sport and Parish said they are set to do so.
Advertisement
The rules of European football's governing body state clubs owned, to a certain threshold of influence, by the same person or entity cannot compete in the same European competition.
Uefa's rules set a deadline of 1 March 2025 to show proof of multi-club ownership restructuring - a deadline which Palace missed.
Palace argued Textor does not hold any decisive influence at the club, but the Premier League side's defence was not accepted.
"Everyone knows we're not part of a multi-club set-up," added Parish. "We don't share any staff. We're caught up in a rule that wasn't put there for us. I don't understand why the panel has come to the conclusion they have done. I think we've shown John had no influence over our club.
Advertisement
"This is a ludicrous decision. We will ask the appeal court to listen to our argument."
Lyon, who also qualified for the Europa League, take precedence over Palace because of their higher league finish in the previous campaign.
The seven-time French champions finished sixth in Ligue 1, with Palace 12th in the Premier League but qualifying for European competition by winning the FA Cup.
Earlier this week, Lyon won their appeal against relegation from Ligue 1 after they were demoted for their financial state.
Had their relegation been upheld, they had agreed with Uefa to be excluded from the Europa League, clearing the way for Palace to play in the competition.
Advertisement
English football has two allocated Europa League spots, with Aston Villa securing the other after finishing sixth in the table, a point clear of Forest.
How did we get here?
Palace were huge underdogs to win the FA Cup, beating Manchester City 1-0, and their joy at qualifying for Europe for a first time quickly turned to unease when the club realised their spot may be in doubt.
Uefa's regulations around multi-club ownership and European competitions are in place to prevent collusion.
In the governing body's rulebook, a club is required to prove they are not "simultaneously involved in any capacity whatsoever in the management, administration, and/or sporting performance of more than one club participating in a Uefa club competition".
Advertisement
Textor's Eagle Football owns a 43% stake in Palace and a 77% stake in Lyon, but the Premier League side argued they are an entity that operates entirely independently.
Forest asked for clarity from Uefa in June on Palace's position in Europe. Their owner Evangelos Marinakis, who controls Greek side Olympiakos, avoided regulations around multi-club ownership by diluting his control of the Premier League side.
Textor took similar steps to help Palace's prospects by agreeing to sell his 43% stake to New York Jets owner Woody Johnson in June, but the deal has yet to be completed.
Textor also later resigned from his leadership position at Lyon.
Advertisement
Uefa delayed their decision on Palace's ruling until the outcome of Lyon's domestic case, while Parish's side indicated they would almost certainly launch a legal fight if their Europa League place was revoked.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
7 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Liverpool advancing in talks for mega transfer
Liverpool are in advanced talks for a mega deal that could transform the club. This is a very exciting moment in the transfer window for the Reds. The club's sporting director, Richard Hughes, has completed the core of his business so far. LFC Kits Shop Now LFC x New Era Shop Now LFC Signed Merch Shop Now LFC x Titleist Shop Now Now what remains is the transfer that Liverpool have yearned for the most. The arrival of Alexander Isak. What once seemed like a wishful fantasy is now very much rooted in hope and reality. Isak wants to leave Newcastle. Liverpool want to sign him. Newcastle don't want to let him go. However, at the end of the day, you cannot keep an unhappy player around forever. Especially one that doesn't even go on the pre-season tour, due to a 'thigh injury.' But before Liverpool can fully pursue a move for Isak, there is one step they have to do and one deal they have to pull off in order to make the dream genuinely feasible. Liverpool have already spent a lot of money this summer. With Hugo Ekitike's arrival, they are approaching close to the £300m mark, which is a hefty sum. At this moment in time, the sum that Newcastle want for Isak is around £150m. Realistically, Liverpool could afford the fee and be compliant with the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR). However, they do have to make wiggle room for Isak in the playing squad. At this moment in time, Arne Slot's team is stacked with attacking talent. With the arrival of Florian Wirtz and Ekitike, Liverpool have seven first team players who can play in various roles around the front three - before we even mention Ben Doak. Three of those players, Darwin Nunez, Federico Chiesa and Luis Diaz face uncertain futures at the club. Which is why Liverpool want to sign Isak. But in order for Isak to come in, a few of the players are going to have to leave and make way for the Swede. And it looks like, Diaz in particular is now closing in on a move away from the club, to make room for Isak. According to TBR's football correspondent Graeme Bailey writing on X, Liverpool are in 'advanced talks' with Bayern Munich over the sale of the Colombian. The report claims that the move is only going in one direction. It is fully expected that Diaz will leave the club for pastures new, and the German giants now look close to securing their man in what will be a mega deal for both sides. **👉 **Liverpool set to increase transfer budget by £200m 🔗
Yahoo
7 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Pete Carroll says Raiders didn't rush into decision to release Christian Wilkins
HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — Raiders coach Pete Carroll said Friday the club didn't rush into its decision to release defensive tackle Christian Wilkins the day before over a dispute regarding his recovery from a broken foot. 'We took a long time to make our decision,' Carroll said. 'We watched our way through the whole thing. We're keeping it really clear with what we said. I think there was no clear path to his return, so we just had to move on.' His comments largely echoed the statement issued by the Las Vegas organization on Thursday. The Raiders didn't mince worse with an unusually strongly-worded statement, saying that Wilkins failed to provide a "clear path or plan for future return to play.' Wilkins was injured in Week 5 last season and had some sort of setback in his recovery that took him out of offseason practices and landed him on the physically unable to perform list shortly before training camp opened Wednesday. Wilkins, 29, was the Raiders' marquee free-agent signing last year, agreeing to a four-year, $110 million contract with $82.75 million guaranteed. The Raiders reportedly are voiding the remaining $35.25 million of Wilkins' deal. Wilkins has filed a grievance with the NFL Players Association, a person with knowledge of the situation said. That person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the topic. The Raiders will have a dead-salary cap of $29.8 million even if they win the grievance. With Wilkins off the roster, Adam Butler and Jonah Laulu ran first team at tackle this week in practice. Butler started 16 games last season, finishing with 65 tackles, eight for loss and five sacks. Laulu started seven games as a rookie, making 35 tackles, with three for loss and a sack. Both players were in all 17 games. 'This place is about competition,' Carroll said. 'It always has been. It's wide open. I'm not going to talk about any names right now. If you watch the rotations, we're giving everybody a chance. We're mixing the (starters) with the (backups) all the way throughout just to gather a bunch of information.' Wilkins was brought to Las Vegas to add an even stronger presence to a defensive line that includes pass rushers Maxx Crosby and Malcolm Koonce. He had a career-high nine sacks in 2023 with Miami to go with his elite run stopping ability. The hopes of forming one of the NFL's most imposing defensive lines took a major hit when all three linemen suffered season-ending injuries, though Crosby and Koonce are back practicing. Crosby was nearly unblockable Friday as the team continued to work in non-padded practices. Wilkins had two sacks and 17 tackles in five games before injuring his foot, which required surgery. He suffered a Jones fracture — a break of the bone that connects the pinkie toe to the base of the foot. ___ AP NFL:
Yahoo
7 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Sarina Wiegman says Euro 2025 ‘craziest' run of tournament matches in her career
England boss Sarina Wiegman concedes Euro 2025 is the 'craziest' run of tournament matches in her managerial career. The Dutchwoman's defending champions are now just one win away from their second major trophy, but will need to seek revenge on Spain – who beat them in the World Cup final two summers ago – to secure back-to-back European titles. To reach this point, the Lionesses have leaned on late heroics, a never-say-die attitude, a sprinkle of luck and the wisdom of a head coach described by her Football Association boss as priceless, one who has now led teams to an unprecedented five consecutive major-tournament finals. 'In this environment you have challenges all the time. Before the World Cup, we had challenges with players who were injured,' said Wiegman. 'Of course, we prepare a lot and we know the players really well. We think of scenarios, 'Who is the first player to select? Who is the second?'. You're prepared for challenges. 'But in this tournament, it has been the craziest one with how the games went. That has been different.' Wiegman was forced to navigate through tumult even before the tournament started. The shock retirements of Euro 2022-winning goalkeeper Mary Earps and attacking midfielder Fran Kirby were followed by veteran defender Millie Bright – who captained England at the 2023 World Cup – withdrawing from selection to prioritise her physical and mental health. 'Of course, the challenge ahead of the tournament – whether players are available or not – the result is the same as an injured player or a player who is not available,' said Wiegman. 'You have to move on to what you want and who is ready to compete.' Some of those primed to do battle were expected – like Lucy Bronze, the 33-year-old now seven-time major tournament veteran Wiegman hailed as 'one of a kind', after she sparked England's stunning quarter-final comeback over Sweden with a late goal, then emphatically netted the winning penalty with the Lionesses' seventh try. But surprise standouts have also emerged in Switzerland, perhaps none so powerfully as 19-year-old Michelle Agyemang, twice England's saviour with equalisers in their quarter and semi-final comebacks. Speaking to Agyemang, who has won three of her four England caps at this tournament, or 21-year-old Chelsea forward Aggie Beever-Jones, paints a picture of Wiegman as a maternal figure, particularly for her seven major-tournament debutants. 'Yeah (I feel like a mum)', agreed Wiegman. 'You know, sometimes when people say about 'the girls' I think, are they meaning my daughters, or are they meaning my team. 'So that's tricky, I'm kind of a caring person so I need to, maybe that's the part, I care about them but at the same time I'm the coach, I'm making these hard decisions at the moment so sometimes you should leave that caring and leave it up to them. 'They're grown-up women! But at least a mum should care.' Wiegman is under contract until after the 2027 World Cup. On Thursday, FA chief Mark Bullingham said she was 'not for sale' and 'no price at all' would be tempting enough to allow her to be prised away. And while she admits some of the attention is 'awkward', Wiegman added: 'Of course I find it very special too. But I do believe that everyone plays his or her part in the success. 'What I'm trying to do is bring people together in the best possible way, players and staff and the people around me are really, really good. And if they perform at their highest level, then the chance of winning a game is the highest possible. And that's what I'm trying to do. 'I think I'm pretty good at bringing people together, but without the quality, you're not going to win a tournament.'