Crystal Palace ‘to launch bombshell claim Nottingham Forest got special treatment from Uefa' as they fight Europa ban
CRYSTAL PALACE are reportedly demanding full disclosure of alleged bombshell emails and texts between Uefa and Nottingham Forest.
The Mail reports that Palace believe the emails will reveal double standards in how the March 1 deadline for compliance was applied, with an alleged special extension.
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Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish slammed the decision to boot the club out of the Europa League as 'ludicrous'
Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
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Evangelos Marinakis diluted his control of Nottingham Forest when it looked like both they and Olympiakos could qualify for the Champions League
Credit: PA
Uefa bosses confirmed last week that Palace had been demoted to the Conference League - opening the door for Forest to replace them in its second competition.
FA Cup winners Palace were deemed to have remained part of the same multi-club ownership group as French giants Lyon after the March 1 disengagement deadline.
John Textor owned shares in both clubs and under Uefa's rules, clubs with the same ownership group cannot play in the same competition.
Meanwhile, Forest, who qualified for the Conference League after finishing seventh in the Prem, took pre-emptive steps in diluting owner Evangelos Marinakis control in the club on April 29, well beyond the March 1 deadline.
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Marinakis also owns Greek side Olympiakos, who regularly qualify for the Europa League and Forest were in and around the Champions League places for most of the season.
But Palace are convinced that Forest, who will be £3.9million better off as a result of being promoted to the Europa League, were given additional time by Uefa.
According to The Mail, Palace, who will appeal the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), will now demand Uefa hand over correspondence between themselves and Forest.
The Eagles hope that the documents, if presented to a CAS panel, could potentially result in the club's reinstatement to the Europa League.
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Palace have lost their place in the Europa League due to John Textor's multi-club ownership after the March 1 deadline
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Palace bosses also believe Forest wrote to Uefa to express their expectation that Palace should be booted out.
This comes after it emerged that the European Club Association, which effectively runs European football with Uefa, had emailed its member sides to tell them that the March 1 deadline was flexible.
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In the email, first reported by the Telegraph, the ECA inform their clubs that Uefa would allow until May 31 for those at-risk to resolve any issues.
Crystal Palace fans protest against Europa League demotion
Palace believe Hugo Hamon, Head of Finance Strategy and Operations at the ECA, advised those affected on how to set up a 'blind trust' to navigate the rules.
Palace say the only communication from Uefa was sent to a generic email address, and that there were no reminders.
They are not a member of the ECA and so would not have received the additional guidance about the deadline.
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While Forest are not an ECA member, Olympiakos, who are owned by Forest chief Marinakis, are.
But it also understood that Uefa sent communication around the deadline, which was brought forward for last season, to the correct email address at Lyon, but that it was not acted upon.
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Crystal Palace have been booted out of the Europa League
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Palace initially earned their spot in the competition by winning the FA Cup
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Forest will replace Palace in the Europa League next season
In April, beyond the original deadline, Marinakis diluted his control of Forest when it looked like both they and Olympiakos could qualify for the Champions League.
It is understood that all options, including legal action, remain on the table for Palace, who said the decision to boot them out was "ludicrous".
It was only last month that former Palace shareholder Textor, head of the Eagle Football Group that includes Lyon, sold his 44.9 per cent stake in Palace to New York Jets owner Woody Johnson in a £190m deal that has still to be ratified by the Prem.
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Textor then resigned from his leadership role at Lyon when they were relegated to Ligue 2 after a string of financial difficulties.
But Lyon soon won their appeal against their relegation and were reinstated to the French top-flight after finishing sixth, which beats Palace finishing 12th.
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Palace fans have been protesting against Uefa's decision
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Supporters gathered outside Selhurst Park to let their voices be heard
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Palace say Textor had no influence and that no intelligence was shared between Palace and any of the other clubs in his group.
The FA has written to Uefa supporting Palace's case, while Liberal Democrat MPs have asked culture secretary Lisa Nandy to intervene in what they branded a "disgraceful" decision.
Hundreds of Palace fans marched to Selhurst Park in a protest organised by ultras fan group the Holmesdale Fanatic.
The draw for the Conference League play-off round, at which stage Palace would enter, is on August 4.
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SunSport has approached Palace and Forest for comment.
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