UEFA receive suitcase of fake money from Crystal Palace fans after Europa League demotion as case goes to CAS

Palace looked set to play in next season's Europa League after winning last term's FA Cup but UEFA deemed they had breached their multi-club ownership rules and demoted them to the Conference League. While they appeal this matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), Palace ultras Holmesdale Fanatics travelled to UEFA's headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, to protest the decision and presented the governing body with a suitcase of fake money.

A post on X reads: "Members of the group travelled to UEFA headquarters to protest the club's unjust expulsion from the Europa League. We gained access to the building to hand deliver a letter addressed to UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin demanding a reversal of this moral injustice and Palace's reinstatement to the competition.

"Accompanying the letter, we symbolically presented UEFA with a suitcase of fake cash representing the contradictions between their supposed "fundamental values" of integrity and fairness and the reality of their business methods and general conduct.

"Following this, we then travelled to the CAS headquarters in Lausanne to remind their organisation that this ruling can and should be overturned. The protests against those responsible will continue. REINSTATE PALACE NOW."

Palace had seemingly earned the right to play in the Europa League after winning their first-ever major trophy at Wembley earlier this year but at present, they won't be playing in the competition. Palace chairman Steve Parish said this was "one of the greatest injustices" ever witnessed in European football, and it is clear they will continue to fight their cause for a while yet.

While Palace continue to fight their corner, as they await a response from CAS, the Eagles' pre-season campaign continues with fixtures against Crawley Town, Augsburg, and then Liverpool in the coming weeks.