Crystal Palace will compete in the UEFA Conference League for the upcoming season after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled in favor of UEFA’s decision to demote them from the Europa League. This ruling comes after a lengthy appeal process initiated by the club following their demotion, which was announced on July 11 due to concerns about multi-club ownership regulations involving American businessman John Textor.

The Eagles had qualified for the Europa League by winning the FA Cup in May, but UEFA determined that Textor's ownership stakes in both Crystal Palace and French club Lyon presented a conflict of interest. Despite Palace’s chairman Steve Parish attending a 10-hour hearing at CAS, the appeal was ultimately dismissed, confirming that the UEFA decision would stand. As a result, Nottingham Forest is expected to take Palace's original Europa League spot.

Palace now faces the challenge of securing their place in the Conference League through a two-legged playoff against the Europa League qualifiers, with the first leg scheduled for August 21 at Selhurst Park. This situation marks a significant disappointment for the club, which had anticipated competing at a higher level in European football.

The CAS ruling has prompted Palace to consider their legal options moving forward, including potential claims for damages. Despite the setback, the club is preparing for the upcoming season and aims to regroup and make the most of their Conference League opportunity. Palace's management will focus on rebuilding and hope to leverage this experience to strengthen their squad for future competitions.