‘Crystal Palace could win Conference League after decision made’
Crystal Palace could win the Conference League next season after being demoted into the competition.
Oliver Glasner’s side beat Manchester City 1-0 at Wembley in May to get their hands on their first-ever major trophy and secure their place in the Europa League.
However, Uefa has expelled Palace from the second-tier European competition after ruling co-owner John Textor breaches its multi-club ownership rules.
The American billionaire owns a stake in Lyon, who also qualified for the Europa League, with Uefa’s rules prohibiting clubs controlled by the same owners or directors from competing in the same European competition.
Palace are now set to play in the Conference League next season, while Nottingham Forest have been promoted into the Europa League.
Finance expert Stefan Borson exclusively told Football Insider it “wouldn’t be a disaster” if Palace were to have a late run in the Conference League.
Football Insider revealed on 9 July Palace were ready to submit an instant appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) if the Uefa decision went against them.
Chairman Steve Parish has now confirmed the south London club will lodge an appeal with CAS.
The international body, which is based in Lausanne, Switzerland, settles sports-related disputes through arbitration and mediation.
Crystal Palace could qualify for next year’s Europa League
Borson insisted Palace would have a better chance of winning the Conference League compared to the Europa League next season.
He told Football Insider: “There is the unspoken thing on this which I don’t think I’ve heard anybody say and it might be difficult for people to accept it, but it might just be a bit difficult to win the Europa League for Crystal Palace.
“Yes, you make more money from a late run in the Europa League, but how about the fact that Crystal Palace actually if you think about it could be a side that’s got a really good chance of winning the Conference League.
“It wouldn’t be a disaster for Crystal Palace to have a really long run in the Conference League, maybe even win it and qualify for next year’s Europa League.
“We know that next year it won’t be an issue because John Textor will have sold his stake by then to Woody Johnson.
“Obviously, on the face of it, they want to be in the Europa League.
“But logically, you’d have to think that there are some teams in that Europa League who are very strong and have got a very good chance of winning it, and probably Crystal Palace won’t be one of them.
“But in the Conference League, maybe they could win it.”
Crystal Palace accept bid for Ola-Adebomi
In terms of an exit at Selhurst Park, Football Insider revealed on 21 July Palace have accepted a bid for Ademola Ola-Adebomi from WSG Tirol.
Glasner’s side have given the 21-year-old striker the green light to hold talks with the Austrian first division club.
Ola-Adebomi registered 12 goals in 13 Premier League 2 games in the second half of last season after spending the first half of the campaign on loan at SK Beveren.
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