Nottingham Forest have been at the heart of Crystal Palace’s multi-club ownership issues with UEFA, with owner Steve Parish now aiming a direct jab at the Reds.
Forest were promoted into the Europa League at the expense of Palace on Friday, due to an alleged breach of UEFA’s rules surrounding multi-club ownership that revolved around the now former co-owner of the London club, John Textor.
Palace, of course, will appeal this decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, but UEFA have added Forest to the Europa League on their website, which is at least an indication of their stance on the charges.
With Forest being the team to benefit from the ruling, there has been the start of a rivalry between the two sets of fans online, only fuelled by Parish’s latest words on the matter.
Steve Parish talks Nottingham Forest’s role in UEFA decision
Before UEFA made their ruling, Textor believed Palace would retain their Europa League spot, a statement that will have only infuriated Eagles fans further, given what eventually occurred.
Parish has discussed the issue publicly since the ruling, emphasising his confidence in Palace’s CAS appeal to reinstate their Europa League place.
In one particular media appearance, the Palace co-owner spoke to Gary Lineker on The Rest is Football about what he believes Forest have done to leave his side scrambling to prove their innocence.
After Lineker asked whether Forest played a part in the UEFA proceedings, Parish said: “So we were told that and I think it’s been made public.
“These things seem to be played out in public, there doesn’t seem to be a lot of confidentiality that comes out of certain organisations. But we’re led to believe that’s the issue. If there wasn’t somebody that wanted to get in as a consequence, then there wouldn’t be an issue.”
Given that UEFA’s issue with Palace was in relation to multi-club ownership, it seems bizarre that Parish would suggest that Forest’s involvement in the issue had any influence in the outcome.
Parish and Palace remain confident that they will retake Forest’s Europa League spot through their appeal, but one football governance expert told Nottingham Forest News that he has doubts over their chances at CAS.
Football governance expert doubts Crystal Palace’s appeal chances
Forest are set to earn millions from the Europa League if they retain their place in the competition, with the finances involved another reason why Palace will be trying everything they can to convince CAS that Textor didn’t hold a decisive influence at the club.
However, football governance expert Adam Williams explained that Palace will do well to overturn the decision in court.
He said: “We also have to caveat this by saying Palace might challenge this at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, but I can’t see a scenario in which CAS overturn UEFA’s decision. They must have something pretty concrete to arrive at this decision.”
It’s unlikely that Parish and Palace would take a loss at CAS lightly, so it remains to be seen how the rivalry between the two fanbases develops.
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