Why Crystal Palace case for Europa League spot is different to banned Drogheda United

Drogheda United's George Cooper celebrates after scoring against Shamrock Rovers in their 2-1 defeat last night. Photo: Shauna Clinton/Sportsfile

Drogheda United have been banned from Europe after losing an appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) - but there is one key difference to the Crystal Palace case.

Drogheda have been expelled from the Conference League next season due to UEFA rules that stop two clubs under the same multi-club ownership structure being in the same competition.

Their US-based owners Trivela Group also own Danish side Silkeborg and the FAI Cup winners have been expelled as the lowest-ranked team.

That has sparked fears among some Palace fans as the Eagles fight to stay in the Europa League next season and wait to learn their fate in the coming weeks.

Drogheda expressed their “great heartbreak and disbelief” at the Cas decision.

But there are is one potentially crucial difference between the Drogheda and Palace cases.

Trivela Group own and control both Drogheda and Silkeborg, while John Textor owns Lyon but only 42 per cent of Palace and has no day-to-day involvement in the running of the club.

FA Cup winners Palace are expected to have to wait until the end of the month to find out if they are able to play in the Europa League next season.

Textor has been in talks to sell Eagle Football’s 43 per cent stake in Palace in a bid to clear the path for them to play in the Europa League, while he has also listed Eagle Football company for an initial public offering (IPO). An IPO is when a private company first sells shares to the public.

Another key difference between the two cases is that Drogheda won the FAI Cup in November, long before UEFA’s March 1 deadline for clubs to make changes to ownership structures.

Palace won the FA Cup in May, after that deadline.

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