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      Inside story of Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham sacking with Daniel Levy rift that intensified during Europa League run

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      SO, Daniel Levy did kill off his main character in the second season finale of the Ange Postecoglou show.Postecoglou himself warned that could be the case just a day after teasing fans at Spurs’ Europa League-winning parade that he could stay on for a third campaign with a prestige-telly analogy.Ange Postecoglou has left SpursCredit: Shutterstock EditorialIt comes despite him ending the club’s 17 year trophy droughtCredit: PAPostecoglou does not get the chance to deliver on his third season promiseCredit: ReutersThe 59-year-old had told hundreds of thousands of delirious supporters lining the streets outside the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium that in “all the best television series, season three is better than season two”.It went down a storm, with many of those who had wanted the Aussie out for the woeful league form now fully behind him after he had ended the club’s 17-year trophy drought.Their hope had been that Levy would perform a similarly emotional U-turn, and NOT go through with his pre-final plan of wielding the axe whatever the outcome in Bilbao.How can he possibly ditch the guy who has delivered our first piece of silverware since the League Cup in 2008, and the first European trophy in 41 years, they asked themselves.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLIn fairness, Levy did pause for thought, albeit briefly.But Postecoglou always knew the chances of the long-serving Spurs supremo doing an about-face were slim, given how their relationship had frayed in the previous months.So it will have come as no surprise to the former Celtic treble-winner – even if it did to millions of Tottenham fans across the globe.Levy turned to Postecoglou in the summer of 2023, after being snubbed by Arne Slot who had decided to stay at Feyenoord for one more season ahead of his switch to Liverpool.Most read in FootballJOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUSPostecoglou even described himself as “the last man standing” in the race to succeed Antonio Conte.But the Athens-born Aussie, who had never previously managed in Europe’s top five major leagues before, got off to a stunning start by taking 26 points from his first 30 available.That was despite the club selling their record goal-scorer Harry Kane to Bayern Munich on the eve of the season.After an unbeaten first ten Prem games, Spurs were five points clear at the top of the table and anything seemed possible under Postecoglou.Fans took to singing a version of Robbie Williams’ Angels regularly after matches, with the key lyrics altered to “I’m loving Big Ange instead”.Levy seemed giddy with excitement too, proudly declaring at a fans’ forum in September 2023 that “we’ve got our Tottenham back” in reference to Postecoglou’s thrilling style of play.Daniel Levy has wielded his axe againCredit: GETTYFans and players appeared with him after the Europa League successCredit: GettyBut then came THAT 4-1 home defeat to Chelsea in November 2023 – the bonkers game Postecoglou may be best remembered for, even more so than the Europa final win over Manchester United.Having had two men sent off and having lost James Maddison and Micky van de Ven to serious injuries, Spurs, amazingly, continued to attack and almost nicked a 2-2 draw.But then Nicolas Jackson completed what was dubbed the worst hat-trick ever in injury-time – before Spurs were treated to a standing ovation by their fans as they left the pitch.It was unprecedented – yet after that game, things were never the same.Teams started to wise up to Spurs’ style of inverted full-backs and clever cut-backs – as well as exposing the gaps they left at the back.Eric Dier, who left to join Kane at Bayern Munich in January, later claimed that Postecoglou “really doesn’t do barely any tactical work, what he does is every single training drill from Monday to Friday is drawn up to represent the way he wants to play.”Van de Ven and Maddison being sidelined disrupted the team’s rhythm and they ended up being pipped by Aston Villa to fourth spot and Champions League qualification.Injuries decimated Postecoglou’s squad in his second season – with the Aussie’s intense pressing style accused of being a contributing factor – and the league campaign began to unravel.Raw teenage talent had mainly been added in the summer – although £65million was spent on striker Dominic Solanke – and it told.Postecoglou hoped for more experience to be added in January but out of the three arrivals, only Kevin Danso fitted that description.Spurs went on to finish 17th after losing 22 league games – the most a Prem team has ever managed and NOT been relegated – including embarrassing defeats to Ipswich and Leicester who both went down.The AngeOut army grew among the fanbase, who had been irked by his misreading the previous season of their desire to lose against Manchester City to deny rivals Arsenal the title.In another clash, Postecoglou mockingly cupped his ear in the direction of Spurs away fans at Chelsea in April.Postecoglou appeared to cup his ears at fans against ChelseaCredit: GettyBut all was forgiven when he ended the trophy curse in Bilbao.Ironically, it was done in a defensive style akin to predecessor Jose Mourinho, with the team having just 27 per cent possession and completing just 184 passes.It was more Ange Wall than Ange Ball, which suggested Postecoglou was capable of adapting when many pundits suggested he could not.That feat was not enough though to convince the higher-ups, who had not agreed with Postecoglou’s decision to prioritise the Europa League from February onwards.It is understood the club began talking to representatives of other managers from the start of the year, underlining the shaky ground Postecoglou has been on for some time.Read More on The SunNow it has collapsed from underneath him, to his disappointment as he felt the job in N17 was not done.But at least he walks away a hero, having finally changed the narrative to one of rare trophy success during the silverware-starved Levy story of the last 25 years. 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      ‘This club is addicted…’ – Tottenham fans all say the same thing after controversial Ange Postecoglou sacking

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      TOTTENHAM fans have slammed the club for sacking manager Ange Postecoglou.The Australian manager was axed by Spurs today despite leading the club to their first trophy in over 17 years with Europa League success this season.Ange Postecoglou has been sacked by TottenhamCredit: GettyA club statement claimed that the unanimous decision to sack the 59-year-old was one the “toughest” the board has had to make.Adding: “Whilst winning the Europa League this season ranks as one of the club’s greatest moments, we cannot base our decision on emotions aligned to this triumph.”But fans are less convinced that moving Postecoglou on was the right decision, with the announcement sparking fury on social media.One fan wrote: “Absolute disgrace!!”READ MORE ON SPURSWhile another added: “What an absolute joke of a football club”.A third simply fumed: “DISGRACE.”A fourth posted: “This club is addicted to self-sabotage. Embarrassing. Thanks Ange, for reminding us what it’s like to actually win something.”And a fifth wrote: “Stunned, and incredibly disappointed.”Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSPostecoglou, who had recently teased a third season in charge, released a statement to the fans after his dismissal. The farewell message read: “When I reflect on my time as manager of Tottenham Hotspur, my overriding emotion is one of pride.Postecoglou unrecognisable in amazing throwback video as first club share emotional 3-minute tribute after Europa League”The opportunity to lead one of England’s historic football clubs and bring back the glory it deserves will live with me for a lifetime.”Later adding: “There were many challenges to overcome and plenty of noise that comes with trying to accomplish what many said was not possible.”We have also laid the foundations that means this club should not have to wait 17 more years for their next success.”Tottenham told fans in a statement that “news on the appointment of a new Head Coach will be announced in due course”.Ange Breaks Silence On Tottenham SackingANGE Postecoglou issued a statement just moments after being axed.It read: “When I reflect on my time as manager of Tottenham Hotspur, my overriding emotion is one of pride.”The opportunity to lead one of England’s historic football clubs and bring back the glory it deserves will live with me for a lifetime.”Sharing that experience with all those who truly love this club and seeing the impact it had on them is something I will never forget.”That night in Bilbao was the culmination of two years of hard work, dedication and unwavering belief in a dream.”There were many challenges to overcome and plenty of noise that comes with trying to accomplish what many said was not possible.”We have also laid the foundations that means this club should not have to wait 17 more years for their next success.”I have enormous faith in this group of players and know there is much more potential and growth in them. I sincerely want to thank those who are the lifeblood of the club, the supporters.”I know there were some difficult times, but I always felt that they wanted me to succeed and that gave me all the motivation I needed to push on.”It’s important to acknowledge the hard working people at Spurs who gave me encouragement on a daily basis.”And finally, I want to thank those who were with me every day for the last two years.”A fantastic group of young men who are now legends of this football club and the brilliant coaches who never once doubted we could do something special. “We are forever connected. Audere est Facere.”Brentford manager Thomas Frank is currently thought to be the front-runner to take over from Postecoglou.Frank has become one of the Premier League’s most highly rated managers thanks to his work with the Bees.However, Fulham boss Marco Silva is also thought to be in the frame for the North London club.Read More on The SunHiring Frank could prove costly business, with the Dane’s release clause believed to be around £10million.Reports had already claimed Spurs will have to fork out £4million in compensation to dismiss Postecoglou, with that figure coming on top of the £2million bonus he earned for winning the Europa League.Brentford manager Thomas Frank is the front-runner to replace PostecoglouCredit: PA More

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      ‘Plenty of noise’ – Sacked Ange Postecoglou takes final swipe at critics in heartfelt statement to Tottenham fans

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      ANGE POSTECOGLOU has broken his silence after he was given the boot by Tottenham.The Aussie boss was sacked two years to the day he was hired by chairman Daniel Levy.Ange Postecoglou has released a statement after being sacked by TottenhamCredit: AFPHe broke the club’s 17-year wait for a trophy and took a final swipe at criticsCredit: PAPostecoglou leaves the north London club having broken their 17-year wait for a trophy after lifting the Europa League in Bilbao by beating Manchester United.However, a woeful Premier League campaign which saw the club finish 17th and record 22 losses meant his position was ultimately untenable.But the 59-year-old has now released a statement on the decision, via his agency CAA Base, taking a final swipe at his critics.The lengthy farewell said: “When I reflect on my time as manager of Tottenham Hotspur, my overriding emotion is one of pride.READ MORE IN FOOTBALL”The opportunity to lead one of England’s historic football clubs and bring back the glory it deserves will live with me for a lifetime.”Sharing that experience with all those who truly love this club and seeing the impact it had on them is something I will never forget.”That night in Bilbao was the culmination of two years of hard work, dedication and unwavering belief in a dream.”There were many challenges to overcome and plenty of noise that comes with trying to accomplish what many said was not possible.Most read in FootballBEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UK”We have also laid the foundations that means this club should not have to wait 17 more years for their next success.”I have enormous faith in this group of players and know there is much more potential and growth in them. Postecoglou unrecognisable in amazing throwback video as first club share emotional 3-minute tribute after Europa League”I sincerely want to thank those who are the lifeblood of the club, the supporters.”I know there were some difficult times, but I always felt that they wanted me to succeed and that gave me all the motivation I needed to push on.”It’s important to acknowledge the hard working people at Spurs who gave me encouragement on a daily basis.”And finally, I want to thank those who were with me every day for the last two years.”A fantastic group of young men who are now legends of this football club and the brilliant coaches who never once doubted we could do something special. “We are forever connected. Audere est Facere.”Full Tottenham Statement On Ange’s SackingFollowing a review of performances and after significant reflection, the Club can announce that Ange Postecoglou has been relieved of his duties.Ange joined us from Celtic in the summer of 2023 and oversaw a period of change on the pitch, returning us to the attacking brand of football that has traditionally been associated with the Club, while writing a new chapter in our history by leading us to UEFA Europa League glory in Bilbao last month – an achievement that will live with us all forever.We are extremely grateful to Ange for his commitment and contribution during his two years at the Club.Ange will always be remembered as only the third manager in our history to deliver a European trophy, alongside legendary figures Bill Nicholson and Keith Burkinshaw.However, the Board has unanimously concluded that it is in the best interests of the Club for a change to take place. Following a positive start in the 2023/24 Premier League (PL) season, we recorded 78 points from the last 66 PL games.This culminated in our worst-ever PL finish last season. At times there were extenuating circumstances – injuries and then a decision to prioritise our European campaign.Whilst winning the Europa League this season ranks as one of the Club’s greatest moments, we cannot base our decision on emotions aligned to this triumph.It is crucial that we are able to compete on multiple fronts and believe a change of approach will give us the strongest chance for the coming season and beyond.This has been one of the toughest decisions we have had to make and is not a decision that we have taken lightly, nor one we have rushed to conclude.We have made what we believe is the right decision to give us the best chance of success going forward, not the easy decision.We have a talented, young squad and Ange has given us a great platform to build upon. We should like to express our gratitude to him.We wish him well for the future – he will always be welcome back at our home.News on the appointment of a new Head Coach will be announced in due courseThe decision comes after Postecoglou compared his time at the club to a TV show before saying, “season three is better than season two”.His overall record at the club reads 47 wins from 101 games, with a win percentage of 47 per cent.As SunSport reported, Fabio Paratici is to return to Tottenham as managing director and will play a key role in finding the club’s next manager.In the club’s own statement on the sacking, Spurs said: “This has been one of the toughest decisions we have had to make and is not a decision that we have taken lightly, nor one we have rushed to conclude.”We have made what we believe is the right decision to give us the best chance of success going forward, not the easy decision.”We have a talented, young squad and Ange has given us a great platform to build upon. We should like to express our gratitude to him.”We wish him well for the future – he will always be welcome back at our home.”Read More on The SunIt is understood Postecoglou will take home a £4million compensation package as a result.Brentford boss Thomas Frank and Fulham’s Marco Silva have both been linked with the now-vacant job in north London.Next Tottenham manager oddsOdds from talkSPORT BETThomas Frank 1/2Marco Silva 8/1Michael Carrick 8/1Oliver Glasner 12/1Carlos Corberan 12/1Xavi 14/1Scott Parker 20/1Tottenham ratings: Bissouma dominates Europa League final as occasion gets to UdogieBRENNAN JOHNSON was Tottenham’s hero as they finally ended their 17-year trophy drought in the Europa League final.Despite being without James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski for the clash in Bilbao, Spurs came up with a massive win against Manchester United.Johnson scored the goal as he helped bundle in from a corner in a tussle with Luke Shaw to send fans into dreamland.But Spurs also owe a huge thanks to Yves Bissouma who was totally dominant in midfield.At the other end, Destiny Udogie struggled to get up to the pace of the match as he was up against Manchester United’s Amad Diallo.Spurs had just three shots, only 27 per cent of the ball, and completed a mere 115 passes over 90 minutes.But it didn’t matter, as United never really looked like finding a leveller to take it to extra time.SunSport’s Henry Tomlinson gave his ratings for the Tottenham players… More

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      Crystal Palace closer than ever to being kicked out of Europe as Man Utd trick to stay in Europa League fails

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      CRYSTAL PALACE are facing complete EXPULSION from Europe next season after Uefa rejected a desperate ploy from club shareholders.The Eagles are facing the prospect of not playing in the Europa League, which they qualified for by winning the FA Cup, due to shareholder John Textor owning a stake in French outfit in Lyon.Crystal Palace are facing complete expulsion from Europe next seasonCredit: ALAMYOliver Glasner’s troops may not play any European footall due to shareholders John Textor and David Blizter owning stakes in clubs in the Europa League and Conference LeagueCredit: GETTYAmerican Textor also owns shares in Ligue 1 side LyonCredit: APLyon are also set to feature in the competition having qualified with a sixth-placed finish in the Ligue 1 last season.Uefa rules prohibit anyone from “simultaneously be involved in any capacity whatsoever in the management, administration, and/or sporting performance of more than one club participating in a Uefa club competition.”The prospect of Palace dropping into the Conference League is also nigh-on impossible as other shareholder David Blizter also has a stake in Danish oufit Brondby, who are set to play in European football’s tertiary club competition next season.In a desperate bid to see the Eagles fly across Europe next season and comply with Uefa rules, Textor and Blizter offered to put their shares in a blind trust.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLBut Uefa chiefs have REJECTED the offer, leaving Palace’s proposed European adventure next season in limbo.The proposal was rejected as Palace missed the registration deadline to submit it.Had it been approved, a blind trust would’ve seen a group of trustees take control of Textor’s shares in Palace for the 2025/26 season.English clubs aren’t strangers to utilising blind trusts so as not to fall afoul of Uefa rules.Most read in FootballJOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUSJohn Textor is willing to sell his Palace shares to ensure they can play in Europe next seasonCredit: X / OLManchester City and Manchester United utilised blind trusts last season as sister clubs Girona and Nice both qualified for the Champions League and Europa League respectively.Palace held crunch talks with Uefa to try to resolve the potentially devastating issue earlier this week.How Crystal Palace outsmarted Man City in FA Cup finalAnd the meeting on the shores of Lake Geneva ended up in Textor putting his shares in the south London club up for sale.He told The Daily Mail: “Look, all of the UK knows that I don’t have decisive influence over Palace. It was a good meeting.”They listened and we’ll see what happens. I wouldn’t be trying to sell (his stake) if I did.”Textor, 59, added: “”We are trying to help separate it and sell.”We wanted to buy but it’s become clear that isn’t going to happen and so we’re trying to help Palace and the situation with UEFA.”That’s about all I can say.” More

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      Cost of sacking Ange Postecoglou revealed with Tottenham forced to pay out millions on top of £2m Europa League bonus

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      THE cost for Tottenham to sack Ange Postecoglou has been revealed.The Aussie boss made good on his promise that he “always wins things” in his second season by lifting the Europa League trophy to end the club’s 17-year trophy drought.The cost of sacking Ange Postecoglou has been revealedCredit: AlamyDaniel Levy will reportedly need to fork out around £4m to give Big Ange the bootCredit: PAThat is on top of the £2m bonus Postecoglou earned for winning the Europa LeagueCredit: GettyHowever, a 17th-placed finish in the Premier League backed up by 22 defeats – the most ever by a team not to be relegated – means Postecoglou is in a perilous position over his job.Should chairman Daniel Levy opt to give Big Ange the boot, the decision will see the 59-year-old manager take home a compensation package worth around £4million.And according to The Telegraph, that is ON TOP of the £2m bonus Postecoglou collected for winning the Europa League and getting the north London club into the Champions League next season.Postecoglou has two years remaining on his Spurs contract, with the terms of his exit being decided before he signed his contract to take him to the capital from Celtic.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLThe report adds that the manager has now returned from holiday and should be receiving clarity over his position in the near future.He appeared to hint he wanted to stay at Tottenham’s trophy parade after he declared: “All the best TV series, season three is better than season two.”However, that decision will come down to Levy.While sacking Postecoglou will take around £4m on its own, the total cost of then appointing a replacement could see Spurs splash out roughly £10m.Most read in FootballBEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UKBrentford’s Thomas Frank is understood to be among the leading candidates for the position, along with Fulham boss Marco Silva.While there is the headache over the future of the first-team coach, behind the scenes the club are also going through a major shake-up.Postecoglou unrecognisable in amazing throwback video as first club share emotional 3-minute tribute after Europa LeagueLevy, 63, has lost his right-hand woman in executive director Donna Cullen, who has left after 20 years of service.Elsewhere, Ryan Mason has also left the club to further his managerial career by taking up the vacant position at Championship side West Brom.They are set to be the first two of many departures this summer, which may include Postecoglou.The shake-up also includes the appointment of Vinai Venkatesham as CEO, who previously served bitter rivals Arsenal in the same role.Sources add these moves could be the prelude to majority owners Enic pumping fresh funds into the club.Tottenham ratings: Bissouma dominates Europa League final as occasion gets to UdogieBRENNAN JOHNSON was Tottenham’s hero as they finally ended their 17-year trophy drought in the Europa League final.Despite being without James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski for the clash in Bilbao, Spurs came up with a massive win against Manchester United.Johnson scored the goal as he helped bundle in from a corner in a tussle with Luke Shaw to send fans into dreamland.But Spurs also owe a huge thanks to Yves Bissouma who was totally dominant in midfield.At the other end, Destiny Udogie struggled to get up to the pace of the match as he was up against Manchester United’s Amad Diallo.Spurs had just three shots, only 27 per cent of the ball, and completed a mere 115 passes over 90 minutes.But it didn’t matter, as United never really looked like finding a leveller to take it to extra time.SunSport’s Henry Tomlinson gave his ratings for the Tottenham players… More

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      Harry Maguire’s lookalike League Two star brother wears crop top as Man Utd ace joins him on his stag do in Croatia

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      HARRY MAGUIRE has joined his brother Laurence’s boozy stag do to sunny Croatia.The younger Maguire, who plays for MK Dons, headed off for the wild celebrations with his England star sibling getting fully involved.Laurence Maguire jetted off to Croatia for his stag doHarry Maguire, left, dressed far more ‘normal’ than his brother LaurenceLaurence decided to wear a ‘Croatia 2025’ open shirtThe League Two star is marrying Amelia JohnsonLaurence, who is an absolute ringer for his England defender brother, was spotted at Zrce Beach’s iconic party island over the weekend.The group of 30-plus wore snazzy multi-coloured beach shirts and quirky hats, with beers and cans in hand, during all hours of the trip.While Laurence wore a rainbow glitter crop top with silver tassels and rave sunglasses, Harry decided on a far more normal look.The groom, 28, posted several pictures of the group, including eldest brother Joe, enjoying Spring Break Island parties.READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWSAnother photo showed the League Two defender wearing a red bucket hat with a blue disco flyway top, which showed his entire chest.The last slide showed the group dancing to house music until the early hours.Laurence is marrying long-term sweetheart Amelia Johnson at a beautiful venue back in the UK on Thursday.It comes weeks after Harry played the full 90 minutes of Man Utd’s embarrassing Europa League final defeat to Tottenham in Bilbao.Most read in FootballThe group of 30-plus wore snazzy multi-coloured beach shirts, with Harry pictured in the middle of the back rowLaurence wore a red bucket hat with a blue disco flyway top one nightThe group spent days partying in CroatiaCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSHarry tied the knot with Fern Hawkins at a Crewe Registry Office in May 2022.The pair said their vows again in France at a romantic ceremony held at a chateau a month later.Harry Maguire’s wife Fern leads Man Utd Wags flocking to Bilbao for Europa League final with TottenhamHarry has endured another horror season with United suffering a record low finish in 15th in the Prem.Meanwhile, fellow centre-back Laurence joined MK Dons this season after winning promotion to League One with Crawley Town in the previous campaign.The Dons avoided relegation from the football league after finishing 19th in the table.The brothers, pictured together at the 2018 World Cup, look strikingly similarHarry married childhood sweetheart Fern Hawkins in 2022 More

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      Crystal Palace co-owner John Textor desperately trying to SELL stake to stop Eagles being booted out of Europa League

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      CRYSTAL PALACE co-owner John Textor is trying to SELL his stake in the club to prevent the Eagles being booted out of the Europa League, reports suggest.Despite winning the FA Cup, the Eagles face being unable to compete in the Europa League for the first time ever next season due to Uefa multi-club ownership rules.Crystal Palace face not being able to compete in the Europa League due to multi-club ownership rulesCredit: Shutterstock EditorialThe issue comes from co-owner John Textor, who also owns LyonCredit: GettyHe is now trying to sell his stake in the Eagles less than a month after their FA Cup gloryCredit: APAmerican businessman Textor owns a 43 per cent share in the Selhurst Park outfit.However, his ownership of Ligue 1 side Lyon has placed Palace’s place in the competition in jeopardy without a ball even being kicked.That is because the French outfit also qualified for next season’s Europa League, but due to their superior league position have preference for a spot.Palace chiefs flew out to Switzerland for a meeting on the shores of Lake Geneva earlier this week for crunch talks with Uefa about the problem.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLAccording to the Daily Mail, those talks lasted for around two hours and ended in Textor putting the club up for sale to avoid a potential disaster.He has previously declared his intention to sell when trying to buy Everton, alongside the fact he has access to just 25 per cent of voting rights at the club.Speaking to the Mail about the meeting, he said: “Look, all of the UK knows that I don’t have decisive influence over Palace. It was a good meeting. “They listened and we’ll see what happens. I wouldn’t be trying to sell (his stake) if I did.”Most read in FootballBEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UKThe 59-year-old added: “We are trying to help separate it and sell. “We wanted to buy but it’s become clear that isn’t going to happen and so we’re trying to help Palace and the situation with UEFA. That’s about all I can say.”Crystal Palace stars lift FA Cup trophy as they win first major honour in club’s history with win over Man CityThe report adds Uefa lawyers will now consider the argument before making a decision in the “near future” ahead of the draw for the qualifying stages of the Conference League.However, Palace being booted out of the Europa League is not the worst-case scenario due to the unprecedented nature of a third club being involved.The Eagles could even be booted out of the Conference League if they were forced to suffer a “relegation” to avoid two competing interests, due to the ownership of shareholder David Blitzer.Blitzer is said to own around 18 per cent of the shares in the club, but also owns Danish outfit Brondby.They appear to be in line to take a spot in the Conference League which would bring Palace into conflict with ownership rules again.Brondby finished third in Denmark’s league, but Palace would argue that qualifying for a higher-ranked competition by winning the FA Cup entitles them to the spot.That being said, if Palace end up being thrown out of European football entirely, bitter rivals Brighton would inherit a spot in the Conference League, while Nottingham Forest move up to the Europa League.Manchester United faced a similar issue last year when they won the FA Cup and were placed below French club Nice in the priority list due to their higher finish in Ligue 1.Both were ultimately allowed to compete, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Ineos agreeing to a transfer embargo between the two clubs and major changes at board level for Nice in a so-called “blind-trust” deal.Read More on The SunManchester City had to do the same when Spanish side Girona, owned by the UAE’s City Football Group, surprisingly qualified for the Champions League last season.As a precaution, Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis made similar changes when it appeared both the English side and Greek outfit Olympiakos were on course to qualify for the Champions League.Crystal Palace ratingsCRYSTAL PALACE secured their first ever trophy with a famous FA Cup final victory over Manchester City. More

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      Why could Crystal Palace get THROWN OUT of the Europa League?

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      CRYSTAL PALACE could get THROWN OUT of the Europa League in a shock to the sporting world.The Eagles initially secured their spot in Europe by beating Manchester City in a thrilling FA Cup final.Crystal Palace beat Manchester City in a thrilling FA Cup finalCredit: GettyCrystal Palace celebrated winning their first major trophy in styleCredit: GettyEberechi Eze’s sublime 16th-minute strike was enough to secure Palace’s first-ever major trophy.And despite finishing 12th in the League, winning the FA Cup meant that the Eagles automatically qualified for next season’s Europa League.However, in a shocking turn of events, the South London outfit could be exiled from the tournament before they have even kicked a ball.Why could Crystal Palace get thrown out of the Europa League?American billionaire John Textor is Palace’s largest shareholder but also owns French side Lyon – who have also qualified for the Europa League.Read more on Crystal PalaceUefa rules prevent two clubs from the same ownership group from participating in the same competition. Where there is a conflict, the spot will go to the team that finished highest in their domestic league.That means Palace would miss out as they finished 12th while Lyon finished sixth in Ligue 1.They will also not be able to drop into the Conference League due to Textor’s stake in Brondby, who qualified for that competition by finishing third in the Danish Superliga.Most read in FootballOwners of both Manchester City and Manchester United have had to take steps, including placing shares in blind trusts, to avoid such issues in recent seasons.Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis placed his shares in the club into a blind trust when it looked like they would qualify for the Champions League alongside the Greek businessman’s other club, Olympiakos.Who would take Crystal Palace’s spot in the Europa League should they get thrown out?It is yet to be confirmed, but if Crystal Palace were to be thrown out of Europe, it would mean that Nottingham Forest would move up into their Europa League spot from the Conference League.Palace’s rivals Brighton would also find themselves in Europe, in the Conference League.Forest finished 7th in the Premier League and Brighton secured 8th spot.When does the 2025/26 Europa League start?The 2025/26 Europa League campaign gets underway on Thursday, July 10 and concludes in Istanbul on Wednesday, May 20, 2026.Here are the key dates for next season’s Europa League.First qualifying round: 10 & 17 July 2025Second qualifying round: 24 & 31 July 2025Third qualifying round: 7 & 14 August 2025Play-offs: 21 & 28 August 2025Matchday 1: 24 & 25 September 2025Matchday 2: 2 October 2025Matchday 3: 23 October 2025Matchday 4: 6 November 2025Matchday 5: 27 November 2025Matchday 6: 11 December 2025Matchday 7: 22 January 2026Matchday 8: 29 January 2026Knockout phase play-offs: 19 & 26 February 2026Round of 16: 12 & 19 March 2026Quarter-finals: 9 & 16 April 2026Semi-finals: 30 April & 7 May 2026Final: 20 May 2026 (Istanbul) More