Latest news with #JoelWard
Daily Mirror
12-08-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Furious Crystal Palace consider next steps after UEFA Europa League ban upheld
Crystal Palace have been demoted to the Conference League after losing their appeal following UEFA's decision to remove the FA Cup winners from the Europa League for a breach of multi-club ownership ruies Furious Crystal Palace will seek on-field justice against Nottingham Forest in their first Premier League home game after the South London club lost their appeal against demotion to the Conference League. And Forest, who complained to UEFA about Palace's ownership, will now take the FA Cup holders' place in the Europa League this season. The Selhurst Park club were last night assessing legal options after the Court of Arbitration for Sport backed UEFA decision to relegate Palace to the third-tier competition. But the August 24 visit of Forest - on the weekend between the two-legged Conference League playoff Palace must now face - promises to be a feisty affair. Palace won the first major trophy in their 120-year history on May 17 - and added the Community Shield on Sunday - but have now lost a huge appeal and potentially £20m in revenue. FA Cup winning captain Joel Ward said: 'It's sad and disheartening. You want the cherry on top of playing in the Europa League. And when that gets snatched away from you, it is a bitter pill to swallow.' UEFA regulations ban clubs under shared ownership or control from playing in the same European competition. And Palace have not been allowed to enter the Europa League because US investor John Textor still owned 43 per cent of Palace by a March 1 deadline and his French club Olympique Lyon also qualified for the second-tier competition. They finished sixth in Ligue 1 and so take priority over 12th-placed Palace. The Premier League club insisted that Textor had no influence in running Palace - and he has since sold his stake to fellow American Woody Johnson. The Eagles also claimed Reds owner Evangelos Marinakis, who controls Olympiakos, had been given extra time to place his Forest shares in a blind trust to skirt the rules. But UEFA - and now CAS - have ruled that Palace had broken the regulations and should pay the price. A CAS statement said: "After considering the evidence, the Panel found that John Textor, founder of Eagle Football Holdings, had shares in CPFC and OL and was a board member with decisive influence over both clubs at the time of UEFA's assessment date. "The Panel also dismissed the argument by CPFC that they received unfair treatment in comparison to Nottingham Forest and OL. The Panel considered that the UEFA Regulations are clear and do not provide flexibility to clubs that are non-compliant on the assessment date, as CPFC claimed." The South London club never expected to qualify for Europe and former Palace owner Simon Jordan told talkSPORT: 'It is a ridiculous rule but everyone knew the rule and Palace didn't comply with it.' Speaking before the ruling, Palace co-owner Steve Parish said: 'I am determined to get the right outcome. If we don't, we will have to look at the steps afterwards.' And England keeper Dean Henderson said at Wembley on Sunday: 'For football purposes we deserve to be in the Europa League. I think it would devalue the competition unfortunately if we weren't in the Europa League.' Forest had been waiting on the CAS verdict before deciding on their transfer policy this season. Last night they made a bid for Monaco midfielder Soungoutou Magassa, 21, who won Olympic silver for France last summer.
Daily Mail
10-08-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Crystal Palace players mob former skipper live on air and hand him winner's medal after Community Shield triumph against Liverpool
Former Crystal Palace captain Joel Ward was mobbed by his former team-mates following their Community Shield triumph over Liverpool. The Eagles beat Arne Slot 's side on penalties after the match ended 2-2 in normal time. Liverpool's new signings Hugo Ekitike and Jeremie Frimpong both scored in the first half but were pegged back each time by goals from Jean-Philippe Mateta and, after the break, Ismaila Sarr. Mohamed Salah missed his second penalty in a week before Dean Henderson made saves from Alexis Mac Allister and Harvey Elliott during a 3-2 shootout triumph. Former Eagles skipper Ward was pitchside, featuring on TNT Sports' live coverage alongside Steve McManaman. The 35-year-old, who left the club this summer after 13 years of service, was warmly remembered by his former teammates. Whole lotta love ❤️ Joel Ward is mobbed by his former Palace teammates after their Community Shield win 🥰 📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK — Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) August 10, 2025 Marc Guehi, Henderson, Maxence Lacroix, and Jean-Philippe Mateta all came over to Ward to embrace him. Mateta also handed Ward his official winner's medal at Wembley but the latter returned it immediately. 'I guess some would say I'm part of the furniture,' Ward said. 'I've been fortunate enough to play for this incredible club for so many years. The love for the guys runs deep. 'I've been fortunate to play with these guys and many players beforehand, it's a special club. I said as I was leaving the club that these guys will go on to achieve great things and I really do believe that. 'Hopefully they get the support they need, players stay and they go on to create their own legacies.' Ward made 364 appearances for Palace and featured for the club in the Championship before their promotion to the Premier League in 2013. He was an unused substitute in last season's FA Cup final win against Manchester City and lifted the trophy alongside Marc Guehi.
Daily Mail
10-08-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Revealed: The Premier League free agent replacing Rio Ferdinand for TNT Sports' coverage of the Community Shield
TNT Sports' replacement for Rio Ferdinand for their coverage of the Community Shield is a Premier League star who is a free agent, it has been revealed. Ferdinand had provided punditry for TNT Sports (previously known at BT Sport) for a decade but announced in May that he will be departing to focus on his business interests. Premier League champions Liverpool take on FA Cup winners Crystal Palace at Wembley on Sunday, with the game being shown on TNT Sports as opposed to ITV. TNT Sports have drafted in a replacement for Ferdinand for this game, with a former Palace player being selected. Joel Ward is currently a free agent having left Palace in the summer following 13 years at the club. As reported by TalkSport, Ward is set to provide an insight into how Oliver Glasner 's team are shaping up ahead of the new campaign. Ward made 364 appearances for Palace and featured for the club in the Championship before their promotion to the Premier League in 2013. He was an unused substitute in last season's FA Cup final win against Manchester City and lifted the trophy alongside Marc Guehi. Steve McManaman, Joe Cole and Fara Williams are also set to be part of TNT Sports' coverage along with Michail Antonio, who recently left West Ham. When he announced his decision to leave TNT Sports, Ferdinand said: 'After 10 incredible years, I have made the difficult decision to step away from TNT Sports after the Champions League final. 'Since retiring from football it has been a privilege talking about the game I love for a decade for sports fans watching on BT Sports and TNT Sports. 'I want to acknowledge the tremendous support from the team behind the scenes, whose hard work often goes unseen, but has been essential to our success. 'To everyone at TNT Sports, we have a brilliant end to the season to look forward to on Saturday, and for now all focus will be on what I think could go down as one of the great European finals. 'The network continues to thrive with more rights than ever, and I look forward to following its progress and the exciting future that lies ahead. 'Lastly, I would like to thank my family and my management company New Era for their ongoing support. 'They have supported me to travel all over the Europe following the best players and watching the best matches. For a football fan like me, it's been a dream come true. 'As I turn the page to the next chapter. I carry with me countless memories. 'I'm excited about what the future holds, spending more time with my family, focusing on Rio Ferdinand Presents and my other business interests.
The Sun
09-08-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Rio Ferdinand's TNT Sports replacement for Community Shield revealed with unemployed Premier League star stepping in
TNT SPORTS have booked in a Premier League cult hero to replace Rio Ferdinand for their coverage of the Community Shield. The broadcaster kicks off its season showing top-flight teams with the Wembley clash between Premier League champions Liverpool and FA Cup winners Crystal Palace. 3 Sunday's showpiece will be its debut on TNT since the FA announced a stunning switch away from ITV as part of a four-year deal earlier this week. There will also be a major change for the broadcaster this campaign with Manchester United legend Ferdinand stepping away from his duties with them after announcing the decision in May. But for tomorrow's clash, TNT have moved to bring in Eagles icon Joel Ward to make an appearance. Ward, 35, made 363 appearances for the Selhurst Park outfit over a 13-year spell at the club. According to City AM, the former defender will make an appearance on TV for them alongside TNT regular Steve McManaman - representing the Liverpool contingent of the punditry lineup. However, Ward - who rounded out his Palace career by lifting the club's first ever major trophy last season - is not viewed as a long-term successor to Ferdinand. Also on the lineup for the Shield, according to FourFourTwo, will be Fara Williams, Joe Cole and Michail Antonio - who officially left West Ham earlier this week. Usual suspects Ally McCoist and Darren Fletcher will once again reprise their roles in the commentary box. Announcing his exit at the end of last season to bring a decade-long partnership to an end, Ferdinand said: "After 10 incredible years. I have made the difficult decision to step away from TNT Sports after the Champions League final. 'Since retiring from football it has been a privilege talking about the game I love for a decade for sports fans watching on BT Sports and TNT Sports. 'I want to acknowledge the tremendous support from the team behind the scenes, whose hard work often goes unseen, but has been essential to our success. 'To everyone at TNT Sports, we have a brilliant end to the season to look forward to on Saturday, and for now all focus will be on what I think could go down as one of the great European finals. 'The network continues to thrive with more rights than ever, and I look forward to following its progress and the exciting future that lies ahead. 'Lastly, I would like to thank my family and my management company New Era for their ongoing support. 'They have supported me to travel all over the Europe following the best players and watching the best matches. For a football fan like me, it's been a dream come true. 'As I turn the page to the next chapter. I carry with me countless memories. 'I'm excited about what the future holds, spending more time with my family, focusing on Rio Ferdinand Presents and my other business interests. 'I hope to stay connected with all of you in different capacities. Thank you once again for everything.' 3
BBC News
08-08-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Palace's appeal against Uefa underway in Switzerland
Crystal Palace's appeal against Uefa's decision to demote them from the Europa League has started at the Cour of Arbitration for and chairman Steve Parish is in attendance in Switzerland along with six other members of his who earned their spot in the Europa League by winning the FA Cup, were relegated to the Conference League in July after Uefa ruled they had breached their rules on multi-club ownership.A decision on the appeal is expected on Palace play Liverpool in the Community Shield on Eagles captain Joel Ward, who left the club after 13 years this summer, told BBC Radio 5 Live the situation is "unjust" and "disheartening" but they have to remain optimistic. "I feel for the club. You play in the most prestigious cup in England and you don't get the reward at the end of it."Obviously, you get the reward of the trophy, but the secondary reward is getting into Europe and that's kind of been snatched away at this point."We stay hopeful for the hearing and hopefully we can get the hearing that we deserve and be back in Europe." Crystal Palace were demoted to Europe's third competition because American businessman John Textor owned a stake in the club and was the majority owner of French giants Lyon, who also qualified for the Europa who has since sold his shares in the South London club, has always maintained that he never had decisive influence over the club and had no say in management decisions."It's been very clear to see that Steve Parish, the chairman, makes the decisions and he's the one who leads the club," added Ward."Obviously the club has got investment elsewhere, but he makes his decisions and there's no kind of involvement with other clubs in any way, shape or form."I think that's the painful side about that. But like I said, we remain hopeful and hopefully we can get the decision turned around."
