Hundreds of furious Crystal Palace supporters marched outside Selhurst Park on Tuesday night, protesting UEFA’s controversial decision to demote the FA Cup winners from the Europa League to the Europa Conference League next season.
The backlash comes after UEFA’s Club Financial Control Body ruled that Palace violated multi-club ownership rules, citing Eagle Football Holdings’ controlling stakes in both Palace and French side Olympique Lyonnais. Club chairman Steve Parish slammed the decision as “one of the greatest injustices in European football history” and confirmed plans to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
Why Are Palace Fans Angry?
Palace earned their Europa League spot by winning the FA Cup—the oldest cup competition in the world—but UEFA’s ruling has left fans feeling cheated.
“It’s not fair,” said supporter Josh Harness. “We won our place on the pitch, and now it’s being taken away because of an ownership technicality. UEFA is punishing the fans, not the owners.”
Protesters carried banners reading “UEFA: Morally Bankrupt” and “Football: Created by the Poor, Stolen by the Rich,” echoing growing frustration over governance in modern football. The march, organized by the Holmesdale Fanatics, drew fans from across the league, with a petition demanding UEFA reverse its decision already gathering over 3,000 signatures.
Ownership Chaos & UEFA’s Controversial Deadline
The controversy stems from John Textor’s 43% stake in Palace, which is set to be sold to New York Jets owner Woody Johnson—a deal approved by the Premier League. However, UEFA ruled the transfer came too late to resolve the conflict, as Textor’s Eagle Football also controls Lyon.
Parish blasted UEFA’s logic on social media, arguing that even if other shareholders had placed their stakes in a blind trust (a common workaround for multi-club conflicts), Palace would still have been penalized.
“Three random people could’ve controlled the club since March, and UEFA would still have kicked us out,” he posted on X (formerly Twitter).
What’s Next for Palace?
With the club set to appeal, the legal battle could drag on, leaving Palace in limbo over their European preparations. Meanwhile, Lyon and Danish club Brøndby (partly owned by Palace co-owner David Blitzer) have been cleared to compete in UEFA tournaments, further fueling fans’ sense of injustice.
The Holmesdale Fanatics called the protest “just the beginning” of a wider fight against what they see as corporate greed in football. “We must stand together to reclaim the game from those who prioritize profit over fairness,” their statement read.
Will UEFA Back Down?
As pressure mounts, all eyes are on whether UEFA will reconsider its stance. For now, Palace fans remain defiant—demanding that football’s governing bodies put sporting merit above bureaucracy.
For more updates on this developing story, follow The Guardian’s football coverage or Sky Sports News.
