Sporting merit rendered meaningless – Palace hit out at Europa League demotion

Crystal Palace have claimed “sporting merit is rendered meaningless” following UEFA’s decision to demote them from the Europa League and the Court of Arbitration for Sport’s rejection of their appeal.

The FA Cup winners were demoted to the Conference League by European football’s governing body UEFA on July 11th after it determined that, as of March 1st, American businessman John Textor had control or influence at both Palace and French club Lyon.

Palace appealed, but on Monday, the CAS announced the London club had lost their appeal, with Nottingham Forest expected to take their place in UEFA’s second-tier competition.

At a time when we should be celebrating our victory in the Community Shield at Wembley, the decision by UEFA and followed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport shows that sporting merit is rendered meaningless.

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