Crystal Palace to take action over Europa ban as 'devastated' Steve Parish outlines plan

Crystal Palace have outlined plans to take action against the club's Europa League ban, after it was confirmed the FA Cup winners had been demoted to the Conference League. Palace's place in next season's Europa League was originally put at risk due to the club's connection with co-owner John Textor, who also had involvement with French side Lyon, as well as UEFA's rules on multi-club ownership.

The Ligue 1 outfit qualified for the Europa League via their league position, but financial issues meant they were provisionally demoted from France's top flight. That decision was revoked, meaning UEFA ruled Lyon would take the spot in the Europa League, given they'd finished higher in their respective league.

Reacting to the news, Palace chairman Parish told Sky Sports News: "Obviously we're devastated. We're devastated for, most importantly, the supporters. I think the supporters of all clubs should be devastated for us because this is the dream.

"You win a cup, actually win something for the first time in your history. Somebody said to me it's like winning the lottery, going to the counter and you don't get the prize. I'm devastated for the players, for the fans, for the staff. It's a bad day for football. I think most right-minded football fans will see what a terrible injustice this is for the football club, one that I dearly hope somebody can remedy because I do believe that nobody in football wants to see this."

Parish is adamant that Palace weren't part of a multi-club ownership model and the decision to strip the Eagles of their Europa League spot is unfair. UEFA rules stated that any clubs with potential conflicts of interest had to be sorted out before a March 1 deadline, which Palace, who hadn't even reached the FA Cup quarter-finals by that point, missed.

On their next steps, Parish added: "I don't think UEFA want to see this. Clubs that rightfully qualify for a competition being locked out of that competition on the most ridiculous technicality that you could imagine. We will appeal. I don't want to prejudge [whether they'd win]. When I say we'll appeal, we're looking at all of the options at the moment. That obviously is one option. What we would much prefer is if somebody intervened in this process."