Crystal Palace Challenges UEFA Over Europa League Exit
Crystal Palace are pushing back after being dropped from the Europa League. The club has taken its case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, hoping to overturn a UEFA ruling that bumped them down to the Conference League due to ownership overlaps.
At the heart of the matter is businessman John Textor, who holds major stakes in both Palace and French side Lyon. UEFA rules prohibit two clubs under shared control from playing in the same European competition, and both teams had secured Europa League spots. But in the end, Lyon stayed in, while Palace got the short end of the stick.
The fallout didn’t stop there. Nottingham Forest, who finished seventh in the Premier League, could now sneak into European football if Palace’s appeal falls flat.
Crystal Palace, however, aren’t backing down. They’ve filed an appeal against UEFA, Lyon, and Forest. Their goal? To reclaim their Europa League place and overturn what they see as a flawed decision.
Chairman Steve Parish voiced his frustration on a podcast, saying:
“We know John [Textor] didn’t have any controlling influence over our club. We proved it, clearly. This outcome doesn’t reflect the facts.”
UEFA pointed to a missed deadline of March 1, 2025, for making ownership changes. Palace disagrees with the interpretation and is asking CAS to step in before the final decision drops on August 11. The Europa League group stage kicks off on September 24.
Harry Maguire Misses United’s U.S. Tour Start
Manchester United’s Harry Maguire was a noticeable absentee as the team jetted off to the U.S. for pre-season.
Although he played in a recent match against Leeds, the center-back wasn’t included in the squad heading across the Atlantic. Club sources say his absence is down to personal reasons, and he’s expected to rejoin the tour before August 3.
Meanwhile, Antony, Jadon Sancho, and Tyrell Malacia have been left at Carrington to continue training—while also exploring potential exits.
New arrivals Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha are part of the travelling group. Mbeumo just signed from Brentford for £65 million, and Cunha is celebrating the birth of his second child.
Though they’ll travel with the team, goalkeeper Andre Onana and defender Lisandro Martinez are still recovering from injury and are unlikely to feature in matches.
Promising youngsters including Sekou Kone and Jack Fletcher-Olson also made the list, as new manager Ruben Amorim begins shaping the squad ahead of a season with no European games.
Wissa’s Brentford Exit on the Horizon?
Yoane Wissa’s Brentford future is hanging in the balance. The striker flew back to London from the team’s pre-season base in Portugal, adding fuel to the transfer rumours swirling around him.
Newcastle, Tottenham, and Forest are all circling, with talks heating up over the past two days. Sources suggest that personal terms won’t be a stumbling block.
Despite Brentford’s desire to extend his stay, Wissa appears ready to move on. With just a year left on his deal (and an optional extension), the club faces a tough decision—especially with his 29th birthday around the corner.
This all comes in the wake of Bryan Mbeumo’s £65 million move to Manchester United. Brentford had hoped to hang on to at least one of their top forwards.
Wissa has racked up 49 goals in 149 matches since joining from Lorient in 2021, including a standout 19 in 35 league games last season.
The Bees are set to play Gil Vicente in Portugal on July 25, but Wissa’s involvement remains up in the air.
