Crystal Palace fans protested and set off flares against UEFA's decision.

Crystal Palace fans gathered to protest against UEFA's decision to kick them out of the Europa League.

Crystal Palace fans gathered to protest UEFA's decision - Source: X/ Eagle-Eyed Football

Today (July 16), hundreds of Crystal Palace fans gathered outside Selhurst Park to condemn the decision to disqualify their team from next season's Europa League by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA).

Crowds were furious at the decision and marched through the streets of south London, waving anti-UEFA banners. Some fans also lit flares, creating chaos on the streets.

Fans held up banners reading "UEFA. Morally bankrupt. Cancel the decision now".

Hundreds of fans gathered, creating a chaotic scene - Photo: PA

Crystal Palace qualified for the 2025-26 Europa League, after winning the FA Cup in May. But were disqualified by UEFA due to multiple ownership rules.

The problem is that Mr. John Textor owns shares in Crystal Palace and French club Lyon. Both teams also qualified for the tournament.

Textor then sold his 43% stake in Palace in a desperate attempt to fix the problem, but that came months after UEFA's March 1 deadline to provide evidence of a multi-club ownership restructuring.

Crystal Palace fans use flares - Source: X/ Eagle-Eyed Football

Crystal Palace are appealing to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in a bid to overturn the ruling. However, if they fail, they will be relegated to the Europa Conference League.

Their last European appearance was in the 1998 Intertoto Cup, but the chance to play in the Europa League is one they feel they fully deserve.

As things stand, Nottingham Forest are the team that have qualified for the Conference League, and through the Premier League will secure a place in Europe's second-tier competition.

UEFA regulations in the case of multiple teams with the same owner, if they both qualify for European competitions, the club with the higher ranking in the domestic league will win the place to participate.

So Lyon finished 6th to Palace's 12th, so they secured a place in the Europa League.

THANH DINH

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/cdv-crystal-palace-bieu-tinh-dot-phao-sang-phan-doi-quyet-dinh-cua-uefa-20250716152914775.htm