Crystal Palace secured an FA Cup victory against Manchester City last season.
A cohort of Liberal Democrat MPs has formally requested Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy’s intervention regarding UEFA’s controversial decision to relegate Crystal Palace from the Europa League due to breaches of multi-club ownership regulations. The MPs have described the decision as “disgraceful.”
The seven London-based politicians, including party leader Sir Ed Davey, have voiced “deep concern” in a letter, labeling the club’s punishment as “highly unusual and severe,” thereby “raising serious questions about fairness and transparency in the governance of English football.”
The Eagles, who earned a Europa League spot by clinching the FA Cup – their first major title – in May, were relegated to the Conference League on Friday.
UEFA regulations stipulate that clubs with overlapping ownership, exceeding a certain threshold of influence by the same individual or entity, are prohibited from competing in the same European competition.
American businessman John Textor holds a stake in Crystal Palace and is also the majority owner of French club Lyon, which has also qualified for the Europa League.
UEFA’s rules established a deadline of March 1, 2025, for demonstrating proof of multi-club ownership restructuring, a deadline which Palace failed to meet.
In a letter obtained by BBC Sport, the Liberal Democrat group characterized the situation as “heart-breaking for fans.”
“Other clubs seem to go through much more protracted disputes with less severe outcomes,” they stated.
“Many believe that this process has been opaque and disproportionately punitive [and] risks undermining not only the club’s achievement but also public confidence in the fairness of football governance.”
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Nandy has been urged to ensure “the decision-making process is reviewed for transparency and fairness” and that “the club is given a fair opportunity to appeal or respond to any allegations.”
Nottingham Forest, who finished seventh in the Premier League last season, are poised to take Palace’s place in the Europa League.
On Tuesday, Palace supporters organized a protest against UEFA’s decision, with hundreds marching to Selhurst Park, brandishing banners, and chanting against the European football governing body.
Meanwhile, Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish has confirmed the club will appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) regarding UEFA’s decision.
“We are still fighting,” Parish told the The Rest is Football, external podcast.
“There’s an appeal process, so we go to Cas, and we’re very hopeful. We think we’ve got great legal arguments.
“We don’t think this is the right decision by any means. We know unequivocally that John didn’t have decisive influence over the club.
“We know we proved that beyond all reasonable doubt because it’s a fact.”
Textor is currently in the process of selling his stake in Crystal Palace to New York Jets owner Woody Johnson.
UEFA has been approached for comment.
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