Nottingham Forest handed Europa League update as fresh statement released
by Press Association, Sarah Clapson · NottinghamshireLiveNottingham Forest face a further wait for clarification over which European competition they will compete in next season.
A decision had been expected today (Monday) on whether Crystal Palace would keep their UEFA Europa League spot. The Reds are in line to be bumped up from the Conference League if their Premier League rivals are booted out of Europe.
However, UEFA has postponed a decision on whether or not to admit Palace into next season’s Europa League. The Eagles thought they had secured a place in Europe’s second-tier club competition thanks to their FA Cup final win over Manchester City in May but uncertainty arose as to whether they would be allowed to enter due to UEFA’s multi-club ownership rules.
Outgoing Palace shareholder John Textor has an interest in French club Lyon, who qualified for the same competition. UEFA announced today (Monday) it needed more time to make a ruling and said Lyon had reached a settlement which would exclude them from European competition next season if a decision to relegate them to the French second tier was upheld. That relegation is the subject of an appeal by the French club.
The European football governing body said of the Palace case: "Finally, the CFCB First Chamber has decided to postpone its assessment of the multi-club ownership case involving Olympique Lyonnais and Crystal Palace.
"This postponement relates to Olympique Lyonnais' compliance with the settlement agreement concluded with the CFCB First Chamber for its breach of the financial sustainability requirements.
"As part of this settlement, Olympique Lyonnais agreed on an exclusion from the 2025/26 UEFA club competitions should the French authority (DNCG) confirm the club's relegation to Ligue 2.
"Further details on this multi-club ownership case and this settlement agreement will be communicated in due course."
Previous reports indicated Palace were optimistic about keeping their spot. However, over the weekend it emerged their hopes of remaining in Europe might have been dealt a blow.
Palace shareholder Textor is also president of Lyon, who also qualified for the Europa League after finishing sixth in Ligue 1. Textor is in the process of selling his shares in the south London side, but there has not yet been a decision over whether they have complied with the rules. It was announced on Monday Textor had resigned from his leadership positions at Lyon as well.
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In the meantime, last week it was confirmed Lyon had been relegated to Ligue 2 amid financial difficulties. The French club immediately announced they would appeal the decision posted an update on their situation on Friday evening.
Lyon said: “Olympique Lyonnais completed the financial sustainability procedure and signed an agreement with the UEFA Club Financial Control Body.
"The club could therefore participate in next season's Europa League, subject to a favorable outcome of the appeal of the DNCG decision. OL would like to thank the UEFA representatives who assisted it in this process.”
Under the rules, no individual is permitted to have a significant say in the running of two clubs competing in the same UEFA competition. Lyon would take the Europa League spot because they finished higher in their domestic league than Palace - sixth to the Eagles’ 12th-placed finish.
A decision from UEFA on where Palace stand had been expected on Friday. It was then claimed a meeting of UEFA chiefs would resume today (Monday) in anticipation of a verdict.
According to the Daily Mail, Palace ‘remain confident’ of their situation being resolved. They are said to be clear no facilities, players or resources are shared with Lyon.
Forest are understood to have written to UEFA asking for clarity after expressing concerns over Palace’s Europa League spot.
At one stage last season, it looked as though the Reds and fellow Evangelos Marinakis-owned side Olympiacos might both qualify for the Champions League.
To avoid potentially being in the situation Palace are in, Marinakis placed his Forest shares in a blind trust so as not to fall foul of the regulations.