By Michelle Ndaga.
Crystal Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson has criticized UEFA’s decision to demote the club from the Europa League to the Conference League, saying it would “devalue the competition” if they were excluded.
Palace were removed from the second-tier European tournament in July after UEFA’s Club Financial Control Body ruled, they breached multi-club ownership rules. The decision came because John Textor, president of Eagle Football Group majority owners of Ligue 1 side Olympique Lyonnais also holds a controlling stake in Palace. Lyon, who also qualified for the Europa League, were allowed to compete.
The South London side has appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), with a closed-door hearing held on August 8. A verdict is expected on Monday.
“We win the FA Cup, we are justified to be in the Europa League,” Henderson told BBC Radio 5 Live after Palace’s Community Shield victory over Liverpool on Sunday. “For football purposes, we deserve to be in the Europa League. I think it would devalue the competition unfortunately if we weren’t in it.”
Palace said in June that New York Jets co-owner Robert “Woody” Johnson had signed a binding agreement to buy Eagle Football’s stake, but the deal came after UEFA’s March compliance deadline. The club’s FA Cup triumph in May had secured their Europa League spot.
“I know the chairman (Steve Parish) has fought hard against it and fingers crossed we are in the Europa League like we deserve to be,” Henderson added. “I am sure they will see sense and put us back in.”
