The relegation of Palace’s Europa League would ‘devalue the competition’: Dean Henderson

Kristal Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson said that the decrease in the European League club «would devalue the competition» because the court of arbitration for the decision of Sport (CAS) would await its appeal against the UEFA ruling in a multi-club ownership case in a multi-club ownership case.

Palace was relegated to the Conference League, the third European competition, by UEFA’s Club Financial Control Body in July because John Textor, president of the Eagle Football Group, majority owners of Olympique Lyonnais, also has a controlling interest in the London Club.

Ligue 1 Club Lyon, who also qualified for the Second-Tier continental competition, was allowed to compete.

Palace appealed to Cas against UEFA’s decision to remove it from the Europa League, with a closed door that took place on 8 August. A decision is expected on Monday.

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«We win the FA Cup, we are justified to be in the Europa League,» Henderson told BBC Radio 5 Live after leading Palace to a FA Community Shield win over Premier League champions Liverpool on Sunday.

«For football purposes we deserve to be in the Europa League. I think it would unfortunately devalue the competition if we were not in the Europa League.»

Palace said in June that co-owner of New York Jets Robert Wood «Woody» Johnson had signed a legally binding agreement to buy the importance of Eagle Football Holding in the club.

Palace, however, missed the Deadline of March to comply with the rules for the ownership of several clubs before he won the FA Cup in May to earn his place in the European competition.

«I know that the chairman (Steve Parish) fought hard against it and fingers were crossed, we are in the Europa League as if we deserve to be …», said Henderson, 28,. «I am sure they will see meaning and put us back in the Europa League.»