Premier League fixture list plunged into chaos less than 48 hours after match dates were confirmed
FIXTURE CHAOS Premier League fixture list plunged into chaos less than 48 hours after match dates were confirmed
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THE PREM fixture list has been plunged into chaos, less than 48 hours after the August match dates were confirmed.
Uefa's decision to relegate Crystal Palace to the Conference League - they are now set to promote Nottingham Forest to the Europa League - will force Prem bosses to rip up their schedule for the third weekend of the season.
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Crystal Palace secured Europa League football with their FA Cup triumph last season
Credit: ALAMY
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But they have been demoted to the Conference League due to the club breaching multi-ownership rules
Credit: GETTY
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Nottingham Forest are set to replace Palace in the Europa League
Credit: REX
With Forest initially due to play their Conference League qualifying round first leg on Thursday August 21, their weekend game - ironically at Selhurst Park - had already been put back to Sunday, August 24.
But the impact of Uefa's decision will be felt the next weekend.
Prem bosses announced on Wednesday that Palace's game at Aston Villa would be played on Friday, August 29, with an 8pm kick-off.
With Palace - unless their appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport is successful - now playing the second leg of their qualifying round 24 hours, the visit to Vila Park will now have to be moved once again, to the Sunday afternoon.
READ MORE ON PALACE
EUR OUT Palace RELEGATED from Europa League with Nottingham Forest set to be promoted
With the September international break following the weekend action, there is no option to move any Prem matches to the Monday evening.
But League bosses may now want to switch Forest's home match with West Ham, which had been provisionally moved to the Sunday afternoon, back to the initially-scheduled Saturday 3pm slot or to fill the Friday night hole.
Palace have yet to comment on their demotion to the Conference League.
But they're expected to submit an imminent appeal of Uefa's decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
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Crystal Palace are set to appeal Uefa's decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport
Credit: Getty
An excerpt of a Uefa statement read: "The present decision may be appealed against before the Court of Arbitration for Sport, in accordance with Articles 62 and 63 of the UEFA Statutes."
Former shareholder John Textor went to extreme measures to try to keep Palace in the Europa League, selling his £190million stake in the club.
Crystal Palace could be KICKED OUT of Europa League before a ball is even kicked
But his firesale proved to be too little too late as Uefa have well and truly brought the hammer down on The Eagles.
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