A gaggle of Liberal Democrat MPs have urged Tradition Secretary Lisa Nandy to step in following what they describe as UEFA’s “disgraceful” transfer to drop Crystal Palace from subsequent season’s Europa League.
Seven MPs representing London constituencies, together with social gathering chief Sir Ed Davey, have written to Nandy to precise “deep concern” over UEFA’s choice, describing it as “a extremely uncommon and extreme punishment on the membership that raises critical questions on equity and transparency within the governance of English soccer.”
Crystal Palace had earned a spot within the Europa League by profitable the FA Cup in Could – the primary main trophy within the membership’s historical past. Nevertheless, final week UEFA introduced the staff would as a substitute compete within the third-tier Europa Convention League, citing violations of its multi-club possession guidelines.
These laws stop golf equipment with shared possession or important affect by the identical particular person or group from competing in the identical UEFA event.
Palace’s American investor, John Textor, additionally holds a controlling curiosity in French aspect Lyon, who’ve additionally certified for the Europa League.
Golf equipment had been required to show adjustments to multi-club possession buildings by 1 March 2025, a deadline UEFA says Palace didn’t meet.
In a letter, the MPs described the affect on the fanbase as “heart-breaking.”
There have been enormous protests exterior of Selhurst Park final evening after Crystal Palace had been demoted to the UEFA Convention League after a ruling on multi-club possession points. pic.twitter.com/Idgm77FdDw
— Soccer on TNT Sports activities (@footballontnt) July 16, 2025
“Different golf equipment appear to undergo far more protracted disputes with much less extreme outcomes,” they wrote.
“Many imagine that this course of has been opaque and disproportionately punitive [and] dangers undermining not solely the membership’s achievement but in addition public confidence within the equity of soccer governance.”
The letter additionally referred to as on Nandy to make sure the method is re-examined for transparency and equity, and that “the membership is given a good alternative to attraction or reply to any allegations.”
Because of Palace’s demotion, Nottingham Forest – who completed seventh within the Premier League – at the moment are in line to take their place within the Europa League.
On Tuesday, a whole lot of Crystal Palace followers took to the streets exterior Selhurst Park in protest, marching with banners and chanting in opposition to UEFA’s ruling.
Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish confirmed the membership will attraction UEFA’s choice on the Court docket of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
“We’re nonetheless preventing,” Parish instructed The Relaxation is Soccer podcast.
“There’s an attraction course of, so we go to Cas, and we’re very hopeful. We predict we’ve bought nice authorized arguments.
“We don’t assume that is the correct choice by any means. We all know unequivocally that John didn’t have decisive affect over the membership.
“We all know we proved that past all cheap doubt as a result of it’s a reality.”
