On Monday, a Court of Arbitration for Sport appeal was denied.
While Crystal Palace awaits the outcome of their own case, UEFA and the Court of Arbitration for Sport are standing by the decision to bar a team from competing in Europe the next season.
After winning the FA Cup, Palace guaranteed their spot in the Europa League for the following season, but their participation in the competition is now in jeopardy.
John Textor, the Premier League team’s principal stakeholder, owns a majority position in Lyon, putting them at risk of breaking multi-club ownership laws.
Both teams have earned spots in the Europa League for the upcoming season, but Palace maintains that American businessman Textor has no influence because he only has 25% of the vote.
According to UEFA rules, a party has “decisive influence” over a club if it holds at least 30% of the vote.
After defeating Manchester City in the FA Cup final, Crystal Palace put an end to their 119-year wait for a major title. Picture source: Getty
Although a final decision on the matter has not yet been made, Nottingham Forest may replace Palace in the Europa League after they are rumored to have written to UEFA to request clarification over Palace’s European position.
Meanwhile, after the League of Ireland team lost its appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, Drogheda United’s exclusion from European competition was confirmed on Monday.
Last week, Drogheda, who had gained Conference League admission, received word that they would not be allowed to play.
They are owned by the Trivela Group, who also hold the majority of Silkeborg IF, a team in the Danish Superliga.
In the 2024–25 Danish Superliga, Silkeborg placed seventh out of ten teams, while Drogheda finished ninth out of ten in the Irish top flight. Both teams qualified for the Conference League by winning their major domestic cup the previous season.
Consequently, Silkeborg has been given permission to participate in the competition.
Following the loss of the appeal, Drogheda released a statement.
“It is with great heartbreak and disbelief that we inform you we have lost our appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport,” the statement continued. “We vehemently disagree with this ruling and had hoped and thought that common sense and fairness would win out.
“We have failed after months of involvement, fruitful discussions, numerous hours of legal preparation, and several proposals based on previously approved frameworks. The decision did not go in our favor, despite sincere and outspoken support from the football community. The result breaks our hearts.
“We are aware that our entire community will be wounded and frustrated by this decision. In addition to the ruling itself, we are aware of the significance this had for all Drogheda United supporters.
“We are aware of the tremendous effort this team put forth to qualify for the European tournament. We are aware of the profound emotional and financial impact that opportunity would have had on our players, employees, and community.
“We don’t agree with this ruling. We think it’s unfair. Opportunities should be protected by rules, not hindered by them. Particularly for clubs with a strong sense of community like ours, which strive to be better every day.
However, we take accountability. We also apologize.
“But while we are saddened, we are also emboldened.”
The team went on to say, “We will not let this setback define us.” “We’ll utilize it as fuel instead. Our team has never received anything; instead, we have earned every inch by perseverance, fortitude, and teamwork. And we’ll keep doing that.
“We’ll work to change things so that no other community club has to deal with this situation ever again. Everyone can perform better. And we’ll do what we can to ensure that everyone does.
“In the days ahead, we’ll reveal more.
“But for the time being, we are concentrating on the things we can control, which include the ongoing LOI season and our FAI Cup championship defense, which starts against Crumlin in July. Both on and off the field, there is work to be done. Here we are. We’re not leaving either. We will keep funding the club’s various initiatives, including the construction of a new stadium. In Europe, we would like to be regulars.
“This club is growing. Our league is growing. And no one result will alter that.
“We continue to fight. Together. Trivela Group and Drogheda United.
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