Palace relegated to Conference League

The Court of Arbitration for Sport upholds UEFA's decision, sending Palace to the Conference League while Nottingham Forest moves into the Europa League.

Crystal Palace faces Conference League path after CAS ruling

The Court of Arbitration for Sport has upheld UEFA's ruling that Crystal Palace must drop to the Europa Conference League because the club did not meet multi-club ownership requirements before the March 1 deadline. Palace will enter the Conference League qualifying rounds this season, while Nottingham Forest will take Palace's Europa League slot.

The ruling carries a heavy price tag for Palace, with the club facing about £20 million less in potential prize money and possible knock-on effects on sponsorship, player recruitment, and wage plans.

Regulatory rules around multi-club ownership are a growing pressure in modern football. The CAS decision shows that governance details can determine competitive destiny as much as on-field form. It also highlights how the economics of European football shape strategic choices for clubs with limited transfer budgets and rising wage costs.

Fans and clubs alike may view the outcome as a reminder that the game is governed by rules as much as by results, and that a win in the courtroom can redefine a season as much as a win on the pitch.

Highlights

The ruling reshapes European ambitions without changing the core appeal of the sport.