‘Nottingham Forest will take Crystal Palace row to the very top – this is my biggest fear’
Nottingham Forest have registered their objection to Crystal Palace’s admission to the Europa League, citing concerns over the Eagles’ multi-club setup.
The Times have reported (9 June) that Forest have written to Uefa to express their concerns about Palace competing in Europe’s second-tier competition as John Textor is also a major shareholder at Lyon.
Forest are eyeing a place in the competition after finishing seventh in the Premier League – and could be in line to step up if Palace are barred from entering.
The row could spawn another costly legal battle between Premier League clubs, with several other disputes bubbling up in recent years.
Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – claimed another legal fight is “his biggest fear” as he urged cooperation between Premier League owners.
Nottingham Forest expected to fail with Crystal Palace challenge, says Wyness
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Wyness insisted Forest could decide to take the dispute to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
CAS are the established authority for sporting disputes in football and have previously handed down judgements, with the court previously intervening to rescind Man City‘s European ban in 2020.
Wyness insisted he hopes the fight between Forest and Palace can “be resolved quickly”.
He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “I think Forest may decide to take this to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
“CAS has always been there as the court of last resort for football, and I’m reasonably happy with that structure.
“What I hope we don’t see is another round of big club litigation before that, and go down the slippery path we’re already seeing.
“These clubs are building up big legal bills and getting involved in all sorts of scraps.
“Let’s hope they can use the existing mechanisms to end these disputes, and stop the lawyers getting another £2-3million in fees.
“That’s my biggest fear. This has got to be resolved quickly.
“I still think the status quo will prevail. Forest have put their line in the sand, they’ll feel aggrieved – but I think they’ll be overruled by Uefa in the end.
“In the US and the NFL, owners work together – but in the Premier League, we’ve got them fighting each other. It’s a shame.”
Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest in Bobb race
Meanwhile, Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace are reportedly among a number of clubs considering moves to sign Man City winger Oscar Bobb on loan.
That is according to former Man United and Blackburn chief scout Mick Brown, who remains very well-connected within the game.
The Norway international suffered a broken leg last August and featured just four times for City last season after spending over 200 days on the sidelines.
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