Crystal Palace may have to wait until the day after they face Liverpool in the Community Shield to learn which European competition they will play in.
The Eagles qualified for the Europa League by winning the FA Cup last term, only to be excluded from it for an alleged breach of UEFA regulations relating to multi-club ownership.
But Palace have appealed against the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport and the verdict is expected to be delivered on August 11, 24 hours after they take on Arne Slot’s team at Wembley.
Were the decision to be upheld, Nottingham Forest would likely take their place in the Europa League, with Palace dropping into the Europa Conference League.
Earlier this week, Palace chairman Steve Parish told the Rest Is Football podcast: ‘We don’t think this is the right decision by any means.
‘We know, unequivocally, that John [Textor] didn’t have decisive influence over the club. We know we proved that beyond all reasonable doubt because it’s a fact.’
Crystal Palace have submitted an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) over their demotion from the Europa League, having won the FA Cup (pictured above in May)
Eagles supporters furiously protested the decision at Selhurst Park last week – with their spot in the competition to be taken by Premier League rivals Nottingham Forest
A final decision is expected by August 11 at the latest, with the Europa League group stage commencing on September 24 – just a day before Palace take on Liverpool at Wembley
The problem arose because American businessman Textor held a stake in both Palace and French club Lyon.
UEFA rules state that under such circumstances, Palace and Lyon could not participate in the same competition.
Palace argue, however, that Textor never had a decisive influence at Selhurst Park and have requested that CAS overturn the UEFA ruling.
Mail Sport revealed last Friday set to demand full disclosure of what they believe are bombshell emails and texts between UEFA and Nottingham Forest – which they believe could ‘prove’ double standards have been applied over their European demotion.
Eagles officials are of the firm view that correspondence exists between the two potentially showing that Forest, unlike Palace, were allowed to extend the March 1 deadline to comply with UEFA’s rules on multi-club ownership.
Palace bosses also believe Forest have written to UEFA to express their expectation that Palace should be demoted.
Furthermore, Palace say the only communication from UEFA was sent to a generic email address, and that they were issued with no reminders over a deadline. They are not a member of the European Club Association (ECA) and so would not have received the additional guidance from the ECA about the deadline.
Crystal Palace say the only communication from UEFA was sent to a generic email address
They are not a member of the European Club Association (ECA) and so would not have received the additional guidance from the ECA about the deadline – unlike Evangelos Marinakis
While Forest are not an ECA member, Olympiakos, who are also owned by Evangelos Marinakis, are.
In April, beyond the original deadline, Marinakis diluted his control of Forest when it looked like both they and Olympiakos could qualify for the Champions League.