CRYSTAL PALACE LOSES APPEAL AGAINST DEMOTION

Palace has become a victim in a complex case — which developed last month when Lyon avoided mandatory relegation in France for financial turmoil — that focused attention on long- standing UEFA rules being tested by more overseas investment...

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Crystal Palace lost its appeal at sport's highest court against demotion to the third-tier Conference League for breaching UEFA rules on club ownership with American investor John Textor.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport said its judges dismissed the English cup winner's request to stay in the more lucrative second-tier Europa League in a case that also involved Premier League rival Nottingham Forest and French club Lyon. Forest and Lyon are confirmed to take entries directly into the Europa League in September, and Palace must start in the Conference League qualifying playoff round next week.

Palace has become a victim in a complex case — which developed last month when Lyon avoided mandatory relegation in France for financial turmoil — that focused attention on longstanding UEFA rules being tested by more overseas investment in European soccer, especially from the United States.

UEFA demoted Palace because Textor had a 43% ownership stake last season while also owning Lyon. Palace missed a March deadline set by UEFA to solve the potential issue.

CAS said its judges decided Textor “was a board member with decisive influence over both clubs at the time of UEFA’s assessment date.”