Crystal Palace supporters protest at demotion from Europa League | OneFootball

Crystal Palace supporters have staged a protest march outside Selhurst Park against UEFA’s decision to ban the club from the Europa League.

Hundreds of Palace fans marched to the club’s home ground on Tuesday carrying banners in protest against the decision to demote their team to the Europa Conference League, per BBC Sport.

The Eagles earned a place in the Europa League by winning the FA Cup last season, beating Manchester City in the final.

But they were demoted to third-tier competition due to their rules surrounding multi-club ownership.

American businessman John Textor owns a stake in Palace and Ligue 1 club Lyon. They also qualified for the Europa League.

UEFA’s rules say two clubs owned by the same person or entity cannot compete in the same European tournament to protect competition integrity.

Textor is currently close to selling his stake in Palace to New York Jets owner Woody Johnson, who has reportedly passed the Premier League’s owners and directors test.

However, with the club missing the March 1 deadline, the move came too late to save them from punishment.

They are expected to appeal against the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Palace chairman Steve Parish described the demotion as ‘one of the greatest injustices that has ever happened in European football’.

Nottingham Forest, who finished seventh last season, are set to take Palace’s spot in the Europa League.