Crystal Palace Demoted to Europa League's Little Brother, Forest Reap the Rewards

On August 23rd, 2025, Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest are set to face off in a Premier League match, but the game comes with added spice. Just weeks earlier, Palace were demoted from the Europa League to the Conference League after UEFA and the Court of Arbitration for Sport found the club had breached multi-club ownership rules.

The punishment came as a result of Palace's owner, John Textor, also holding a majority stake in French club Lyon, who qualified for the Europa League. With Palace now in the Conference League, it was Nottingham Forest who took their place in the Europa League, having finished 7th in the Premier League last season.

The decision has sparked a bitter feud between the two clubs, with Palace fans directing their anger towards Forest, their owner Evangelos Marinakis, and even UEFA itself. Palace chairman Steve Parish has hinted that Forest played a role in the punishment, though the Midlands club insists it was simply seeking clarity on the situation.

Tensions are high ahead of the match, with extra security measures in place and the potential for heated exchanges between the two sets of supporters. While this may not develop into a long-standing rivalry, the fallout from Palace's demotion has certainly added an extra layer of spice to the encounter.