Crystal Palace Undergoes Arbitration Trial, Struggling For Europa League Places

Chairman of Crystal Palace, Steve Parish, and club lawyers convene at the Court of Arbitration Sport (CAS) in Switzerland for their appeal hearing on Friday, August 8, 2025.

Palace submitted an argument that they hoped would return the FA Cup winner to the Europa League - UEFA's second level tournament.

Parish told reporters outside the court in Lausanne that he believed the club's case was strong and hoped they would be given a fair trial.

"Given our current situation, it's hard to feel confident because it feels like dystopia is in this situation. So, I don't know."

"Hopefully common sense will win and we will get the right answer. However, let's see on Monday (11 August 2025)," said Parish as reported by Sky Sports.

Separately, to be precise London, Crystal Palace Manager Oliver Glasner gave a statement of support.

He acknowledged that his team's potential relegation from the Europa League to the UEFA Conference League felt like punishment for an innocent team.

"If you are convicted when you feel innocent, it's difficult. It feels like this. If we play in the UEFA Conference League, it feels like we're punished, but we're innocent."

"On the other hand, if we end the season in seventh place and go straight to the UEFA Conference League, we will all definitely celebrate."

"So, these are the two feelings we have. However, once again, if you don't make mistakes and you feel punished, you'll never feel good."

"So, this is how we feel. How do we feel about UEFA's decision," said Glasner ahead of the legal decision on Monday, August 11, 2025, which will determine their fate in Europe.

Palace was fielded from the Europa League to the UEFA Conference League by UEFA on July 11, 2025 after deciding that as of March 1, 2025, US businessman John Textor has control or influence at Palace and Ligue 1 club Olympique Lyonnais.

UEFA rules state that if one or more clubs are deemed to have the same ownership, they cannot play in the same tournament.

Lyon outperforms Palace for the only place in the Europa League as they finish higher than Palace in the league.

However, Textor has sold his stake in Palace to New York Jets owner Woody Johnson, a deal completed at the end of July 2025.

However, UEFA remains in its stance to shift Palace to the UEFA Conference League.

Meanwhile, Glasner emphasized that disputes outside the field did not affect the preparation or atmosphere of training ahead of the 2025/2026 season.

His team will start their season against Liverpool at Community Shield on Sunday, August 10, 2025, at Wembley.

"No, not at all. Our first meeting afterwards, when we met, it was only mentioned once."

"One of our slogans is that we want to focus on the things we can influence so we can't influence UEFA's decisions."

"We have no influence on CAS's decision. So, that doesn't make sense. The players really played very well throughout pre-season and training, working very hard."

"We said, well, on August 11, 2025 we will get the final decision. We will accept it. So, that's all we can do," he said.

Glasner also insisted that which European tournament uncertainty they would participate in would not dampen the interest of potential players even though it was reportedly unhappy with the club's limited business so far this summer.

"We have to (recruit). It's not what the coach wants, it's a promise. No. It's all about Crystal Palace."

"If Crystal Palace wants to play in European football, want to compete in other competitions, want to rank in the Premier League, want to repeat that success again, that's what you have to do. Everyone in this building knows this," said the coach.