Football: FA Cup winners dropped to UEFA's Conference League in multi-club ownership case
Photo:
AFP
Premier League side Crystal Palace has been dropped in European competition to the third-tier Conference League in a multi-club ownership case, while Olympique Lyonnais will be allowed to play in the Europa League, UEFA said on Friday.
Palace had qualified for the Europa League by
winning the FA Cup last season
, while Lyon reached the competition by finishing sixth in Ligue 1.
But a move to relegate them to France's domestic second-tier Ligue 2 over their poor finances was overturned on Wednesday, a decision UEFA's Club Financial Control Body (CFCB) had been waiting for before ruling on Crystal Palace's multi-club ownership case.
"Consequently, the CFCB First Chamber pursued the assessment of the documentation submitted by Olympique Lyonnais and Crystal Palace and concluded that the clubs breached, as at 1 March 2025, the multi-club ownership criteria," UEFA said in a statement.
As both Lyon and Palace had qualified for the Europa League, the French club were allowed to keep their place as they finished higher in their respective league, with Palace finishing 12th in the Premier League.
The Eagle Football Group are majority owners of Lyon while its chairman John Textor also owns a controlling stake in Palace. Textor later resigned from Lyon's board of directors with Michele Kang appointed chairwoman and president.
Palace said last month that New York Jets co-owner Robert Wood "Woody" Johnson had signed a legally binding agreement to buy Eagle Football Holding's stake in the Premier League club, subject to approval from the Premier League.
However, Palace had missed the March deadline to comply with the multi-club ownership rules.
"Honestly, I am stunned. We did everything possible to separate from the club, as UEFA would ask, with a sale process that began before the deadline, and a sale that will occur well before the draw," Textor told Reuters.
"Now we have sold out of a club that I love, to help Palace fans continue this dream year, only to have another off-the-pitch decision lay waste to an historic sporting victory."
Lyon had been demoted by the DNCG, French football's financial watchdog, in November due to the poor state of their finances but their relegation to Ligue 2 was overturned by its appeals committee.
Palace can still appeal the decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport but if UEFA's decision stands, the rules could allow Nottingham Forest to play in the Europa League if they fulfill the admission criteria.
Forest had finished seventh last season and originally qualified for the Conference League while fifth-placed Aston Villa and Palace had qualified for the Europa League.
The rules say no club may hold or deal in securities or shares of any other club participating in UEFA's competitions and that no club can be a member of any other club participating in UEFA competitions.
Furthermore, no one person has the power to be simultaneously involved in management, administration and/or sporting performance of any club and they must not have any control or decisive influence over more than one club.
- Reuters
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter
curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RNZ News
13 hours ago
- RNZ News
Football: Man City impress, Sunderland win on return to English Premier League
Erling Haaland. Photo: photosport Erling Haaland bagged a double to fire Manchester City to a perfect start in a 4-0 rout of Wolverhampton Wanderers, while Tottenham Hotspur kicked off the Thomas Frank era with a 3-0 win over Burnley on the first Saturday of the English Premier League season. Sunderland celebrated their return to England's top flight with a 3-0 victory over West Ham United, while Aston Villa survived defender Ezri Konsa's dismissal to salvage a 0-0 draw against Newcastle United with the visitors missing want-away striker Alexander Isak. On the south coast, Rodrigo Muniz's last-gasp goal gave Fulham a 1-1 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion. Pep Guardiola's revamped City got the season off to a flying start, with Haaland - who has scored in the opening game in all his four seasons in the league - striking in each half, and newcomers Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki scoring debut goals in what City will hope was the first step toward erasing last season's third-place disappointment. Wolves supporters paid heartfelt tribute to former striker Diogo Jota throughout their first league outing since he and his brother Andre Silva died in a car crash in July. At Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Spurs gave Frank a comprehensive victory in his first home match in charge thanks to a dazzling double from Richarlison, while it was a harsh welcome back to the league for Burnley. Richarlison slotted home Mohammed Kudus's cross in the 10th minute, and the Brazilian linked up with Kudus again on the hour mark when he dived to fire home Kudus's cross with a stunning acrobatic volley. Brennan Johnson added a third goal on the counter-attack six minutes later. The victory was notable for a Premier League first as Burnley keeper Martin Dubravka conceded the first corner kick of the season under new rules after holding the ball for more than eight seconds. Sunderland had a dream start to their return to the top flight after eight years at a jubilant Stadium of Light. The opening half saw the hosts still finding their rhythm against a disjointed Hammers side but they grew into the game, and Eliezer Mayenda broke the deadlock in the 61st minute. Sunderland kept up the momentum and Daniel Ballard scored 12 minutes later, while Wilson Isidor had the home fans in a frenzy with another goal in injury time. At Villa Park, the home side were thrown into disarray in the 66th minute when Konsa was shown a straight red card for pulling down Newcastle forward Anthony Gordon while he was in hot pursuit of a through ball from Anthony Elanga. Newcastle continued to fire crosses into the box but without a recognised centre-forward such as Isak, who wants to leave amid interest from champions Liverpool, they could not convert them and the game ended in stalemate. Brighton appeared to be heading for a victory after Matt O'Riley's goal from the penalty spot early in the second half, but Fulham salvaged a draw from a corner in the 96th minute when substitute Muniz lashed in from close range. - Reuters
RNZ News
16 hours ago
- RNZ News
Football: Man City impress, Sunderland win on return to Premier League
Erling Haaland. Photo: photosport Erling Haaland bagged a double to fire Manchester City to a perfect start in a 4-0 rout of Wolverhampton Wanderers, while Tottenham Hotspur kicked off the Thomas Frank era with a 3-0 win over Burnley on the first Saturday of the Premier League season. Sunderland celebrated their return to England's top flight with a 3-0 victory over West Ham United, while Aston Villa survived defender Ezri Konsa's dismissal to salvage a 0-0 draw against Newcastle United with the visitors missing want-away striker Alexander Isak. On the south coast, Rodrigo Muniz's last-gasp goal gave Fulham a 1-1 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion. Pep Guardiola's revamped City got the season off to a flying start, with Haaland - who has scored in the opening game in all his four seasons in the league - striking in each half, and newcomers Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki scoring debut goals in what City will hope was the first step toward erasing last season's third-place disappointment. Wolves supporters paid heartfelt tribute to former striker Diogo Jota throughout their first league outing since he and his brother Andre Silva died in a car crash in July. At Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Spurs gave Frank a comprehensive victory in his first home match in charge thanks to a dazzling double from Richarlison, while it was a harsh welcome back to the league for Burnley. Richarlison slotted home Mohammed Kudus's cross in the 10th minute, and the Brazilian linked up with Kudus again on the hour mark when he dived to fire home Kudus's cross with a stunning acrobatic volley. Brennan Johnson added a third goal on the counter-attack six minutes later. The victory was notable for a Premier League first as Burnley keeper Martin Dubravka conceded the first corner kick of the season under new rules after holding the ball for more than eight seconds. Sunderland had a dream start to their return to the top flight after eight years at a jubilant Stadium of Light. The opening half saw the hosts still finding their rhythm against a disjointed Hammers side but they grew into the game, and Eliezer Mayenda broke the deadlock in the 61st minute. Sunderland kept up the momentum and Daniel Ballard scored 12 minutes later, while Wilson Isidor had the home fans in a frenzy with another goal in injury time. At Villa Park, the home side were thrown into disarray in the 66th minute when Konsa was shown a straight red card for pulling down Newcastle forward Anthony Gordon while he was in hot pursuit of a through ball from Anthony Elanga. Newcastle continued to fire crosses into the box but without a recognised centre-forward such as Isak, who wants to leave amid interest from champions Liverpool, they could not convert them and the game ended in stalemate. Brighton appeared to be heading for a victory after Matt O'Riley's goal from the penalty spot early in the second half, but Fulham salvaged a draw from a corner in the 96th minute when substitute Muniz lashed in from close range. - Reuters
NZ Herald
20 hours ago
- NZ Herald
All Blacks v Argentina live updates: Scott Robertson's side open Rugby Championship in Cordoba
All the action from the All Blacks' Rugby Championship opening test, away against Argentina in Cordoba. Ratima wins race for No 9 jersey in All Blacks' Rugby Championship opener Scott Robertson is leaving nothing to chance for the All Blacks' Rugby Championship opening test, and named his strongest possible matchday 23 for Sunday's clash against Argentina in Cordoba. For the first time in 2025, no debutants will take the field, despite the injury-enforced changes required after last month's series against France. As had been indicated by coach Robertson earlier this week, Scott Barrett has returned to full fitness from the calf injury that kept him out of the end of the All Blacks' July series against France, and is partnered by the impressive Fabian Holland in the second row. Cortez Ratima has won the race to wear the No 9 jersey, and starts at halfback in the absence of both Cam Roigard (foot injury) and Noah Hotham (ankle) to partner Beauden Barrett, named at No 10, after his recovery from a broken hand. Finlay Christie has held off competition from the uncapped Kyle Preston, and provides halfback cover off the bench. Damian McKenzie has been named on the bench in the No 22, and will cover both first-five and fullback. Christie could have been seen as the safer option to start at halfback, given his big game experience - which includes a World Cup quarter-final, semifinal and final. However, Robertson has opted to back Ratima, who has been a mainstay of his squad selections since his debut last year. Despite the temptation of handing a debut to Chiefs and Northland loose forward Simon Parker, Tupou Vaa'i has kept hold of the No 6 jersey, and starts at blindside flanker alongside Du'Plessis Kirifi and Ardie Savea. Samipeni Finau will provide loose forward cover from the bench. 'We've had a great week of training in Buenos Aires and the group is ready to go out and perform,' said Robertson. 'Scott and our leaders have led from the front and there's a lot of focus and motivation in the group for the start of the campaign. 'We know the Pumas identity is a fast and physical game and we've selected a team that will embrace the occasion. 'It's been 30 years since the All Blacks played in Cordoba and we are looking forward to the passion and energy of the home crowd.' The All Blacks have never lost to Los Pumas in Argentina. All Blacks: 1. Ethan de Groot, 2. Codie Taylor, 3. Fletcher Newell, 4. Scott Barrett (c), 5. Fabian Holland, 6. Tupou Vaa'i, 7. Du'Plessis Kirifi, 8. Ardie Savea, 9. Cortez Ratima, 10. Beauden Barrett, 11. Rieko Ioane, 12. Jordie Barrett, 13. Billy Proctor, 14. Sevu Reece, 15. Will Jordan Reserves: 16. Samisoni Taukei'aho, 17. Ollie Norris, 18. Pasilio Tosi, 19. Patrick Tuipulotu, 20. Samipeni Finau, 21. Finlay Christie, 22. Damian McKenzie, 23. Anton Lienert-Brown.
