Top flight club kicked out of Conference League in warning to Crystal Palace

UEFA and the Court of Arbitration for Sport are standing by the decision to ban a club from playing in Europe next season as Crystal Palace await a verdict on their own case.

Palace secured their place in next season's Europa League after winning the FA Cup, but their participation in the competition is now under threat.

The Premier League club are in danger of a potential breach of multi-club ownership regulations, as their majority shareholder John Textor has a controlling stake in Lyon.

Both teams have qualified for next season's Europa League, although Palace argue that American businessman Textor has no say over decisions as he only has 25 per cent of the voting power.

UEFA regulations deem that any party with at least 30 per cent of voting power has 'decisive influence' over a club.

Crystal Palace ended their 119-year wait for a major trophy with a win over Manchester City in the FA Cup final. Image credit: Getty

A final verdict is yet to be announced on the situation, but Palace could be replaced in the Europa League by Nottingham Forest, who are understood to have written to UEFA asking for clarity over Palace’s spot in Europe.

In the meantime, Drogheda United's expulsion from European football was confirmed on Monday after the League of Ireland side lost an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Drogheda, who had earned entry into the Conference League, were informed last week that they will not be permitted to compete.

They are owned by the Trivela Group, who also have a majority stake in Danish Superliga club Silkeborg IF.

Both sides qualified for the Conference League by winning their major domestic cup last season, but Silkeborg finished seventh in the 2024/25 Danish Superliga, while Drogheda finished ninth out of 10 teams in the Irish top flight.

As a result, Silkeborg have been granted entry into the competition.

Drogheda release statement after losing appeal

"It is with great heartbreak and disbelief that we inform you we have lost our appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport," the statement read. "We strongly disagree with this decision, and had hoped and believed that the principles of fairness and common sense would prevail.

"After months of engagement, constructive dialogue, countless hours of legal preparation, and multiple proposals based on frameworks that have been accepted in the past, we have come up short. Despite genuine and vocal support across the football world, the ruling did not fall in our favour. We are heartbroken by the outcome.

"We know that this decision will cause hurt and frustration across our entire community. Not just because of the decision itself, but because we know how much this meant to everyone associated with Drogheda United.

"We know how hard this team fought to earn a place in European competition. We know how transformational that opportunity would have been, not just financially, but emotionally for our players, our staff, and our community.

"We disagree with this decision. We believe it is unjust. Rules should protect opportunity, not prevent it. Especially for community-driven clubs like ours who fight every day to punch above their weight.

Nevertheless, we accept responsibility. And we’re sorry.

"But while we are saddened, we are also emboldened."

Drogheda United have been excluded from the Conference League due to ownership rules. Image credit: Getty

"We will not let this setback define us," the club added. "Instead, we will use it as fuel. Our club has never been handed anything and we’ve earned every inch through grit, resilience, and unity. And we will continue to do so.

"We will push for reform so that no other community club finds itself in this position again. All parties can do better. And we will do our part to make sure we all do.

"We will share more in the coming days.

"But for now, our focus turns back to what we can control: the ongoing LOI campaign and our FAI Cup title defense, beginning in July against Crumlin. There is work to be done, on the pitch and off it. We are here. And we are not going anywhere. We will continue to invest in all areas of the club, including plans for a new stadium. We want to be regulars in Europe.

"This club is on the rise. Our league is on the rise. And no single outcome will change that.

"We fight on. Together. Drogheda United & Trivela Group."