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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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      Barcelona face starting Champions League 2025/26 with POINTS DEDUCTION with Chelsea and Villa also set to be punished

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      BARCELONA are facing the threat of Uefa sanctions after breaching financial rules for a second year running, reports claim.It comes after the Spanish giants lost an appeal in the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) over a £420,000 fine imposed by Uefa for wrongly reporting profits in October. Barcelona are facing severe sanctions from Uefa after breaching financial rulesCredit: APA CAS ruling in October said a second breach would lead to ‘harsher’ finesCredit: GettyThe CAS ruling at the time warned the club would face “harsher” punishments if they failed to comply with rules again.And according to The Times, they have been found wanting again under Uefa rules, and the La Liga champions are now due to be hit with severe sanctions.These could include a reduced limit on the number of players they can register for next season’s Champions League or even a points deduction in the league phase. English sides Chelsea and Aston Villa are also understood to have breached Uefa rules.However, because they are first-time offenders, they will be slapped with financial penalties only.Both have been in talks with the Uefa’s Club Financial Control Board (CFCB) over a financial settlement.The governing body of European football are due to confirm the sanctions imposed on each team later this month.Barcelona have tried a number of unorthodox ways to help them climb free of financial ruin. Most read in FootballBEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UKIn 2022, they sold 10 per cent of their broadcasting revenue over the next 25 years for £225million (€267million).They wanted to claim this as “other operating income” on the books, which would have counted towards their FFP calculations.Barcelona win LaLiga at Espanyol as fierce rivals turn sprinklers on to dampen celebration before Hansi Flick intervenesHowever, Uefa insisted it must come under “profits on disposal of intangible assets” which do not count towards FFP.Barcelona then sold another 15 per cent of their broadcast rights for £337m (€400m).But the CAS ruling means it cannot be classed as operating income, which is said to have been the ultimate cause of their latest breach.Barca made the Champions League semi-finals this year, losing to beaten finalists Inter Milan.Chelsea’s breach comes down to Uefa not counting the club’s world record £220m sale of the women’s team to a sister company on their books.This is in contrast to Premier League financial rules which do allow it.Uefa financial rules state clubs can make a maximum loss of £170m (€200million) over three years.Read More on The SunClubs also cannot spend more than 80 per cent of their UEFA-allowed revenue. But this will reduce further to 70 per cent next season. More

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      Fans poke fun at ‘best team in Europe’ Arsenal as they are 12th in Uefa’s rankings behind MAN UTD

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      FANS are laughing at Arsenal after the Uefa rankings put them behind Manchester United.The Gunners fell short of silverware for the third season in a row while the Red Devils had their worst campaign in modern history.Arsenal sit 12th in Uefa’s coefficient league tableCredit: Shutterstock EditorialDespite a poor season, Man Utd remain ahead of themCredit: GettyAfter crashing out the Champions League to eventual winners PSG, Mikel Arteta claimed his team are the “best in Europe”.But the coefficient league table disagrees and even has Arsenal below crisis club United.The rankings take into account each side’s performance in the Champions, Europa and Conference Leagues over the last five years and it is used for seeding.Arsenal sit 12th overall with 98 points and Man Utd are 11th on 102.5.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLThe North Londoners’ run to the Champions League semi-final this season earned them 36 points.But their score has been hindered by not appearing on the continent in 2020/21 and losing in the Europa League last-16 to Sporting Lisbon the following year.While United’s performances across the five-year period have been more steady, featuring in every season.Despite victories in the Europa being less valuable than the Champions League, two runner-up finishes and a run to quarter-final is enough to prop them up just above Arsenal.Most read in FootballJOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUSAnd fans have mocked the Gunners, with one saying: “As if the best team in Europe isn’t even ranked top ten.”Another laughed: “Chelsea is still ahead of Arsenal despite not playing Champions League for two seasons.”Jamie Carragher in huge row with Gary Neville over Arsenal title prediction and striker claimA third commented: “This can’t be right, the best club in the world Arsenal are not there. They have been telling me all year they are the best the world has ever seen. Forget the trophies.”The updated rankings have Real Madrid out on top on 143.5, narrowly ahead of Manchester City’s 137.75.PSG’s Champions League victory earned them 33.5 and rockets them to fifth.Chelsea got 30 from their Conference League glory and they can still count upon the 33 from Champions League success under Thomas Tuchel four years ago.Outside the top spots – Tottenham are 27th, West Ham sit 29th and Aston Villa place 46th.Join SUN CLUB for the Arsenal Files every Friday plusin-depth coverage and exclusives from The Emirates More

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      Uefa release statement on Europa League final medal shambles and reveal why Tottenham stars missed out

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      UEFA have issued a statement on their lack of winners’ medals for Tottenham after the Europa League final. The north Londoners ended their 17-year wait for a trophy with a 1-0 win over Manchester United in Wednesday’s final in Bilbao.Tottenham lifted the Europa League thanks to a 1-0 win over Manchester UnitedCredit: SHUTTERSTOCKSeveral players were left medalless during the trophy presentation, including skipper Son Heung-MinCredit: AFPUefa have issued an apology for their ‘oversight’Credit: GETTYBut stunningly, there weren’t enough medals to go around for the players before the trophy presentation.And Uefa have explained why they didn’t have enough of them on hand in a statement featuring a grovelling apology.It read: “To our great displeasure, we did not have enough medals available on stage during the trophy ceremony presentation due to an unexpected discrepancy in the player count, as more team members – including injured players – participated in the ceremony than initially anticipated. “The missing medals were promptly delivered to the winning team in the dressing room, along with our sincerest apologies for the oversight.”READ MORE IN FOOTBALLAmong the injured Spurs players who went up for a medal was England midfielder James Maddison.The crocked former Leicester City midfielder donned a FULL KIT as he went up to collect a medal, something skipper Son Heung-min DIDN’T HAVE as he lifted the trophy.Explaining why he was in a full kit, Maddison told CBS Sports: “They said I had to put the kit on to get a medal!”I didn’t want to do a John Terry! Most read in FootballJOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUSTottenham 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…”What a special feeling. Winning makes [the season] all alright – the pain of not being able to play is not being able to help the team. “It is a brilliant achievement and a way to qualify for the Champions League but it is more winning for the fans. Richarlison bangs on drum and celebrates with Tottenham fans following Spurs Europa League triumph “They have had years of pain.”Ange Postecoglou’s future with Spurs has been the subject of intense speculation for the last few months due to the club’s woeful Premier League form.But the Aussie seemingly has no intention of walking from the club, telling TNT Sports: “I don’t feel like I’ve completed the job yet, we’re still building.”The moment I accepted the role I had one thing in my head, and that was to win something. More than anything else I had that in my head, and we’ve done that now so I want to build on it.” More

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      Uefa awkwardly RUN OUT of Europa League winners’ medals as Son and Romero among Tottenham stars to miss out

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      UEFA ran out of medals for Tottenham as they ended their 17-year wait for a trophy.Brennan Johnson’s scrappy goal after the ball bounced off Luke Shaw’s arm proved the only goal of the nervy Europa League final. Son Heung-min lifted the Europa League trophy without a winner’s medalCredit: ReutersUefa president Aleksander Ceferin had to apologise to the South Korean as the medals ran outCredit: GettyMicky van de Ven saved the day by acrobatically clearing off the line as Spurs held on against Manchester United. And at long, long last, Tottenham could get their hands on a piece of silverware for the first time since the 2008 League Cup. However, as the Spurs players lined up on the San Mames Stadium pitch to collect their medals, Uefa bosses did not have enough.It meant that captain Son Heung-min had to go without as he hoisted the trophy into the air. READ MORE IN FOOTBALLIronically, eight referees received medals.As did James Maddison who went full John Terry in his full kit for the celebrations.It appears key men Rodrigo Bentancur and Cristian Romero also had to go without – although Spurs will no doubt be able to source a few extras to make sure everyone has something to commemorate the victory. Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin said a few words to Son – possibly congratulating the South Korean, possibly apologising for the blunder – before handing over the trophy. Most read in FootballBEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UKAnd unsurprisingly, plenty of fans flooded to social media in response.One posted: “How embarrassing for @EuropaLeague & @UEFAcom running out of winners medals for the last few Spurs players including the captain! You’d think they’d ensure there was a few extra! They’re hardly solid gold!”Dave Courtnadge reactions as Tottenham beat Man United in Europa League finalAnother joked: “There’s something so incredibly Spurs about UEFA running out of medals during the presentation, to the point that our captain and an all-time great lifts the trophy without one around his neck while Timo Werner’s giving it large over his shoulder.”A third added: ” Embarrassing@EuropaLeague not having enough medals for the Spurs team.”James Maddison wore a full kit and got a medal as some team-mates went withoutCredit: Reuters More

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      Tottenham blocked from upholding touching 98-year tradition by Uefa ahead of Europa League final against Man Utd

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      TOTTENHAM have been blocked from honouring a 98-year tradition before the Europa League final.Ange Postecoglou’s side are taking on fellow Premier League strugglers Manchester United on Wednesday night in Bilbao.Tottenham’s plans to lay a floral tribute to Athletic Bilbao goal legend Pichichi were stoppedSpurs arrived with flowers for Heung-min Son to place before the famous Pichichi bustSpurs were ready to lay flowers down at an iconic statue outside the San Mames in tribute to Bilbao goal legend Pichichi.But their plans were foiled by Uefa on the eve of the final.Tottenham arrived armed with flowers for captain Heung-min Son to place before the famous Pichichi bust.It is usually a tradition for those playing at the San Mames for the first time to lay down a wreath there.READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWSSon was expecting to perform the tribute before going out to train in the stadium on Tuesday, only for Uefa to step in and remind Spurs the ceremony should only happen whey they play Athletic Bilbao and not a neural team.The 49,600-seater stadium is handed over to Uefa for the event and they are in control of all logistics not Athletic Bilbao.Man Utd made their Pichichi tribute ahead of the first leg of the Europa League semi-final in Bilbao, when they beat Athletic Club 3-0.The tradition has existed since 1927.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSRafael Moreno, an inside forward better known as Pichichi, died in 1922 at just 29 years old. He is a club icon and his name lives on through an annual award made to LaLiga’s top scorer.BATTLE FOR BILBAO: The Road to the Europa League FinalBorn in Bilbao’s Casco Viejo, he scored 83 goals in 89 official games in an era before LaLiga. He scored more than 200 for the club if friendlies are taken into account.He won five regional Championship titles and four Copa del Rey’s.He played for Spain in the 1920 Olympic Games in Antwerp, winning a silver medal.MAN UTD VS TOTTENHAM – EUROPA LEAGUE FINAL LIVELatest betting odds, offers and predictions More

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      England DENIED automatic qualification to Euro 2028 despite hosting after shock rule change.. but will have safety net

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      ENGLAND and the other host nations will have to earn their place at Euro 2028 despite the tournament being played in the British Isles.But Uefa have confirmed a backdoor route for any of the four countries that does not make it by right.England have been denied automatic qualification to Euro 2028As expected – with the FA keen for the Three Lions to play competitive games ahead of the tournament rather than a year of friendlies – Uefa’s ruling executive committee has now confirmed the qualifying structure.At a meeting in Bilbao, Uefa agreed that TWO spaces will be made available for the host nations who do not qualify by right when the campaign begins in March 2027.Northern Ireland’s failure to provide a suitable stadium after the collapse of the plans to play matches at Casement Park means games will now be played in England, Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland, although the Belfast-based side can still qualify.As in Europe’s World Cup qualifying schedule, which continues next month, there will be 12 groups, consisting of either four or five teams, with the four co-hosts also taking part.READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWSThe 12 group winners and the best eight runners-up – with points earned against the teams placed first, third and fourth taken into account – will automatically qualify for the 24-team tournament.Two further places will be available from a play-off system involving the other four runners-up and the best-ranked non-qualifiers from the Nations League campaign starting in September 2026, involving between eight and 12 teams.And that leaves two final places for the two best co-hosts who did not qualify through their group finish, although they will not be eligible for the play-offs.CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSThe draw for the qualifying stage will take place in December 2026, at the conclusion of the Nations League.Most read in FootballCardiff’s Principality Stadium will host the opening game on June 9 2028, with both semis and the July 9 Final played at Wembley.England squad plays the Traitors Other English venues will be the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Everton’s new home at Bramley Moore Dock, the Etihad, Villa Park and St James’ Park.Hampden Park and Dublin’s Aviva Stadium provide the Scottish and Irish venues. More

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      Champions League, you’re having a laugh? Wild Uefa changes almost make it harder for Premier League sides not to qualify

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      CHAMPIONS LEAGUE? You’re having a laugh.We’ve all heard it. The derisory chant from opposition fans when one of the so-called ‘big guns’ is having an off day.Six English teams will qualify for next season’s Champions LeagueCredit: GettyEither Tottenham or Man Utd will earn Champions League qualification this season despite finishing 17th or 16th in the Premier LeagueCredit: GettyFor example, Southampton supporters had every right to aim it at the multi-billionaires of Manchester City last weekend, when they couldn’t find a way past the worst team in the Premier League.Only now what was once a mildly amusing terrace jibe sums up perfectly what the leading club competition in the world has become. A joke.Next season there will be a record SIX English teams in the Champions League.Almost one third of the entire Premier League will be waved straight into the bizarre league phase by Uefa’s welcoming doormen at an empty small town disco on a wet Tuesday night.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLAnyone can come in. From Liverpool who finished top, right down to hapless Tottenham or abject Manchester United hovering above the relegation zone.It is time to officially ban the phrase ‘elite competition’ whenever the Champions League is mentioned on TV and radio or written in print.There was a time when you had to win your domestic league to progress into the highest level of European football the following season.Simple as that.Most read in Champions LeagueCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSChelsea are set to qualify for the Champions League despite being 20 points adrift of LiverpoolCredit: GettyWe are now at a point where English Premier League teams have to work harder to stay out of the modern Champions League than to get in.Spurs and Man United, regular participants in the past, have done spectacularly well trying to cock up their seasons. Yet by virtue of winning the Europa League one of them will be alongside Liverpool, Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich, the already declared winners of their respective leagues.’I’d dive head first through a brick wall for him’ – Ange Postecoglou’s rallying speech reduces Tottenham fans to tearsErratic Chelsea, under the guidance of boss Enzo Maresca, have lost to Ipswich, Fulham and Brighton. From winning five Premier League games in a row, they went winless in the next five and couldn’t string a pass together.They lag 20 POINTS behind the bona fide champions of England from Anfield and are fifth.Don’t bet against them being in next season’s Champions League.The constant tinkering and chiselling away at a once simple game has led to Uefa getting its knickers in a right old twist.Fifth in this year’s Premier League grants a free pass into the treasure trove of the Champions League thanks to the coefficients which measure success where once it was about winning.A whole page is devoted to thrill-a-minute ‘coefficients’ on the governing body’s website to explain how a system that would baffle Stephen Hawking’s much cleverer cousin actually works: “Uefa calculates the coefficient of each club each season based on the clubs’ results in the  Uefa Champions League, Uefa Europa League and Uefa Conference League.“The season coefficients from the five most recent seasons are used to rank the clubs for seeding purposes (sporting club coefficient). “In addition, the season coefficients from the ten most recent seasons are used to calculate revenue club coefficients for revenue distribution purposes only.”And that’s just the overview.There’s a gag in there somewhere about how many coefficients does it take to ruin a game of football? Only I can’t see a funny punch line.There was a time back when the world was black and white in the 1950s when two imaginative French journalists took inspiration from South America and came up with the idea of the best clubs from each country competing for a trophy on our continent.Ironically, it wasn’t called the Champions League back then. It was the plain old European Cup. A cup fought over by teams in Europe. Simple eh?Liverpool’s first steps into the European Cup came in 1964, our sole representatives having won the league the previous season under Bill Shankly.Next season they share the honour with five other English teams and some of them are pretty ordinary.If Spurs win the Europa League and follow it up by winning the Champions League next year, the champions of Europe will come from a team currently 17th in England’s top division.Read More on The SunYou can argue it won’t happen. Yet somehow a side which has lost more league games than it has won this season is in a European final next week.That’s cup football for you and it’s a wonderful lottery. Qualification for the Champions League is not. It’s a boring carve up.The top five teams in the Premier League will qualify for the Champions League due to European coefficientsCredit: AFP More