Crystal Palace

Former England midfielder Izzy Christiansen says only time will tell whether Crystal Palace's demotion to the Conference League "will be a blessing in disguise".

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club, Christiansen recognised the frustration after they lost their appeal, but said that "cannot move away from the fact Oliver Glasner has done a wonderful job" to get them this far.

"He has won two trophies and you would probably back them to compete into the late stages of the Conference League as well," said Christiansen. "They could win it if they keep their squad together.

"That then would then be a third consecutive trophy and that shows huge success for them as a club.

"The manager has been given time to build and I think they have the most exciting front three in the league when Jean-Philippe Mateta, Eberechi Eze and Ismaila Sarr are on form."

Watch the full episode on BBC iPlayer or listen on BBC Sounds

• Sign up for notifications about your Premier League club

Sami Mokbel
Senior football correspondent

Image source, Getty Images

Crystal Palace will be counting the cost of their failed Cas appeal in seeking to overturn the club's demotion to the Conference League.

From a purely sporting perspective, there is far less prestige in playing in the Conference League compared with the Europa League - the competition Palace believed they had qualified for having won last season's FA Cup.

The counter argument is that Palace will stand a better chance of winning the Conference League. That may be the case, but that is not really the issue here.

Palace feel this is a huge miscarriage of justice, irrespective of their chances of winning a European trophy next season seemingly improved.

You also have to wonder how the decision may impact their plans between now and the close of the transfer window.

It is estimated that their European demotion could cost the Eagles in the region of £20m, a relatively large amount given the size of the club.

That may well now play a factor in attempting to sign their preferred targets and their leveraging power as they try to prevent key players from leaving. Marc Guehi and Eberechi Eze are among those courting interest from the Premier League's top sides.

Guehi, who has less than a year left on his contract, is likely to be sold, with Liverpool among his suitors, while Eze has interest from Arsenal and Tottenham.

• Get news alerts on your Premier League club

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your views on the news Crystal Palace's appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport against their demotion from the Europa League has been dismissed.

Here are some of your comments:

Ahmed: We have been made a complete example of by the authorities. Now they will change the rules so this won't happen again but by that time it won't matter as the rich clubs will always be favoured and get away with it! This is the day that will be remembered that greed won and common sense lost. One rule for some and one rule for the rest of us. But, we are Palace and we keep on fighting!

Nick: How can a law court get it so wrong? It is known that Textor had no decisive influence at Palace. Lyon were reinstated after being demoted from Lique 1 in France so they could play in Europa League and stop Palace. People at Uefa should be very ashamed that they have acted against the best interests of the sport!

Victor: It is what it is. It was always a possibility that this would be the outcome. Now the club has to pick itself up, dust itself down and keep building for the future and the season ahead!

Andy: This has got to be on Parish as the buck stops with him! Poor planning and management of compliance. Arguments were poor and minimal sympathy to him! My sympathy goes out to the fans, players/coaching staff, everyone who works at Palace as the chairman let them down! Now Parish needs to back Glasner and get some signings in to support the extra games.

Warren: Absolute travesty. Proves that Palace have been unfairly treated as there was no sanction for Lyon. I would also suggest that it undermines the integrity and prestige of the oldest club competition in the world. Boils down to the fact that Lyon have a huge fanbase and Forest have a proven history - albeit many moons ago.

Chris: The rules are the rules - fair or unfair. I have supported Palace since I was seven in 1951 and they were in the Third Division South. Disappointed? Too right I am. Surprised? I am not.

Crystal Palace have lost their appeal against being demoted from the Europa League and will play in the Conference League this season.

The ruling from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) also means Nottingham Forest's spot in the Europa League is confirmed, having been promoted in the Eagles' place.

Palace qualified for the Europa League after winning the FA Cup last season but were punished by Uefa for breaching multi-club ownership rules.

American businessman John Textor owned a 43% stake in the club until he sold it in July and is the majority owner of Lyon, who have also qualified for the Europa League.

In the ruling, Cas said:

• Regulations are clear and do not provide flexibility to clubs that are non-compliant on the assessment date, as Palace claimed.

• Textor still had decisive influence over both clubs at the time of Uefa's assessment date.

• The panel also dismissed Palace's argument that they received unfair treatment in comparison to Nottingham Forest and Lyon.

What is your reaction to the verdict?

Get in touch with your views here

David Mohan
BBC Sport NI journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Crystal Palace's penalty hero Justin Devenny had no doubt he would convert the decisive spot-kick as the Eagles beat Liverpool to win the FA Community Shield at Wembley on Sunday.

The 21-year-old Northern Ireland international was introduced late in the game with the sides locked at 2-2 and had an opportunity to snatch the win in normal time but his effort from the edge of the box went just wide.

In the shootout, the teams were again level at 2-2 when the midfielder stepped up and found the top corner of goalkeeper Alisson's net to secure another piece of silverware for the London club, who won the FA Cup last season.

"It was a long walk up to the penalty spot, but I was confident and believed in myself," Devenny told BBC Sport after the game.

"The keeper was trying to take as long as he can for me to get set up, but I just waited, believed in myself, put the ball down and I knew where I was going - thankfully it went in.

"I had the chance in the game to win it, but I won it in the end, so I'm happy about that."

Scotland-born Devenny came through the youth system at Kilmarnock before a move to Airdrieonians preceded his switch to Crystal Palace in 2023.

Last season he featured 28 times for the Premier League outfit, putting his rapid rise down to work ethic and family support.

"If you put in that work, I believe anyone can get there," said Devenny who has been capped five times for Northern Ireland.

"My family have been there from the start. There's been a lot of sacrifices made by them, so for me to repay them is a special feeling."

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your views on Crystal Palace beating Liverpool in the Community Shield on penalties.

Here are some of your comments:

Paul: This, for me, is the best Palace side I have seen since supporting them from 1977. What makes it special is that we now have three players who look like they will score regularly. On our day, we can beat anybody!

Andy: Palace deserved it based on the second half. Now the Palace hierarchy needs to go all in on Glasner. He is one of the best managers in football and Palace need to keep him.

Adrian: Crystal Palace are a force now. Get some more players and watch out.

Elias: In my opinion, Mateta is a better striker than Harry Kane; he has won two trophies with a mid-table team, while Harry can barely scrape onto the list of players with a competitive trophy, never mind that he was at Spurs and Bayern. So, when a man who is worth £15-20m is said to be 'not a quality player,' just think of this.

Mike: What a manager Oliver Glasner is. I only hope Parish supports him with the additional players he requires.

Kester: Forget the Uefa ruling, forget the future of Eze, Guehi, and the lack of transfer activity. The real issue is, do we have a trophy cabinet big enough?

Nick: Palace deserved to win after the second-half performance. Hopefully, an even bigger win on Monday with the Europa decision. Keep the main guys, and who knows what they can achieve this season.

Image source, Getty Images

Former Premier League midfielder Don Hutchison believes keeping hold of key players is the "best outcome" for Crystal Palace in the transfer window.

The Eagles have made just two signings so far this summer, but Hutchison feels it is not just incomings that the club should focus on.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast, Hutchison said: "Palace have had a really good [transfer] window [so far] in not allowing any of their big players to leave.

"What they've got to do now is convince them to stay. I'd like to think that Oliver Glasner has got the pulling power to say to his players and say to the likes of Marc Guehi that they should stay to help them in Europe for just one more year.

"Keeping hold of their best players would be the best outcome for them this transfer window".

Palace won a second trophy in three months at Wembley on Sunday, with a penalty shootout victory over champions Liverpool.

Glasner's side twice came from behind to take the match to spot kicks and Hutchison believes they deserved their victory.

"How can you not love Palace's story?" Hutchinson said.

"They are one of these teams that have had it hard for a long time and now they've got their second major trophy in a matter of months.

"They play and they run hard for their fans and they are a team I think that are hard not to like. The players work really hard for the badge on the front of the shirt and they thoroughly deserved their win."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds here.

Pre-season is completed and the countdown to the 2025-26 season is on.

It's been a difficult summer at Selhurst Park given the uncertainty over which European competition the team will be playing in next season.

However, as things stand, key players Marc Guehi, Eberechi Eze and Jean-Philippe Mateta are still at the club.

So, with the Premier League campaign starting at Chelsea on Sunday, do you think Crystal Palace are ready?

Get in touch

Emma Smith
BBC Sport journalist at Wembley

Image source, Getty Images

Amid the frenetic scenes at Wembley, an unlikely hero emerged for Crystal Palace - 21-year-old Northern Ireland international midfielder Justin Devenny.

Devenny was only introduced in second half stoppage time after Palace captain Marc Guehi went down with cramp, but volunteered for the penalty shoot-out.

And after stars like Mohamed Salah, Eberechi Eze and Alexis Mac Allister fluffed their lines, Devenny was nerveless in striking Palace's fifth, and winning, penalty.

"I am delighted Devenny took the decisive penalty," Palace manager Oliver Glasner told his post-match media conference.

"We did not talk about it before as you never know who will be on pitch. He volunteered, and said he would take fifth one. He was not scared."

Devenny made 23 Premier League appearances for Palace last season, and looks like he has the temperament needed to play a major role this campaign.

Image source, Getty Images

Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner spoke to TNT Sports after his side won the 2025 Community Shield.

On winning at Wembley again: "I like it [the feeling]. I have to give big credit to the players for this win today, we came back and were able to decide the game on penalties. We were on the same level as Liverpool and it was a big performance, I'm proud of the team."

On how his team have improved: "We know what we can do and how we can create chances. Things have developed over 18 months and the players are really starting to believe in what we are doing. I knew we could score at least two goals."

On signing new players: "I'm very happy with the squad because they just won another trophy. I see the number of games we have to play next season as a reward, we want to win something and we want the European football. We might miss Daichi Kamada - who got injured today - at Chelsea next week and it's times like this where we will assess our targets and find the right players."

On what he said at half-time: "I told the players to keep calm, I was proud of how they played. They were unlucky with the second goal. I knew if we stuck to the plan then we would get our chances and we always know if we take them we will win the game."

On Joel Ward: "We miss him a lot, he played more than 300 games in the Premier League [for Crystal Palace]. It's not just the player, it's a big personality in the dressing room that you can't replace."

On Justin Devenny's decisive penalty: "Justin came to me and said 'I'll take it, I'll take the last one'. I like him having this confidence and the determination to win us the game, he will play many minutes for us this season."

Image source, Getty Images

• Crystal Palace have become the first new winners of the Community Shield since Nottingham Forest in 1978.

• Since Oliver Glasner's first game in charge of Palace (24 February 2024), the only Premier League players that have scored more goals than Jean-Philippe Mateta (31, level with Cole Palmer) in all competitions are Erling Haaland (50), Mohamed Salah (40) and Alexander Isak (38).

• This was Palace's first penalty shootout victory in any competition since beating Sunderland in the 2004 second tier play-off semi-final. The Eagles had lost six consecutive shootouts prior to today.

Crystal Palace have won the Community Shield on the penalties after a 2-2 draw with Liverpool at Wembley.

Reds new boy Hugo Ekitike gave Liverpool the lead early on before Jean-Philippe Mateta levelled from the penalty spot after Virgil van Dijk bought down Ismaila Sarr.

Arne Slot's side then retook the lead when Jeremie Frimpong's looped cross evaded Dean Henderson and found the far corner.

Sarr equalised again for the Eagles late in the second half to set up the penalty shootout from which Oliver Glasner's team emerged victorious.

What did you learn from the game?

Get in touch

Emma Smith
BBC Sport journalist at Wembley Stadium

Oliver Glasner has named a five-man defence for Crystal Palace's first competitive game of the season.

It is the same system used for their most recent friendly, a 1-0 loss to Augsburg on 1 August. Captain Marc Guehi - subject of transfer speculation as he enters the last year of his contract - is one of three centre backs.

Palace have several injury issues, with Eddie Nketiah and Cheick Doucoure among those set to miss the start of the season.

Palace XI: Henderson; Munoz, Richards Lacroix, Guehi, Mitchell; Wharton, Kamada; Eze, Sarr, Mateta.

Subs: Benitez, Lerma, Clyne, Hughes, Esse, Edouard, Sosa, Devenny, Cardines.

Four of Liverpool's summer signings, including record acquistion Florian Wirtz, make their first competitive starts for the club today.

Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez form a new look pair of full backs, while it appears Hugo Ekitike will lead the line as the central striker.

Alisson keeps his place in goal, with Giorgi Mamardashvili among the subs.

Liverpool XI: Alisson; Frimpong, Van Dijk, Konate, Kerkez; Szoboszlai, Jones; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; Ekitike.

Subs: Mamardashvili, Endo, Mac Allister, Chiesa, Elliott, Robertson, Nyoni, Doak, Nguhoma.

Alex Howell
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner says that it would be a "mistake" for the club to wait on their European fate before making any signings - and also says there are no negotiations over a new contract.

The club have appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport against their demotion from the Europa League to the Conference League.

The Eagles have been drawn against against Norwegian side Fredrikstad or Midtjylland of Denmark, for the Conference League play-off round.

The two legs are played on 21 and 28 August but Glasner says Palace, who have only signed two players this summer, should not wait until those matches to bring in new faces.

"If you're thinking like this, you make a mistake," he said. "Then you're always reacting to situations. You can't run a business where you're always reacting.

"You can but you'll never have long-term success. You have to be active and plan what's going on.

"You can't say we wait and then on the 28th, if we qualify for the Conference League group stage, then we act. We don't think like this."

• Find and follow your club here

Last season, Glasner was frustrated with Palace's late activity in the transfer window, especially given the Eagles' slow start to the season where they won only one of their opening eight league games.

But Glasner says he is not worried about a repeat as long as the club keeps their top talent.

"The difference now is the team stayed together," Glasner said. "Last year, we lost 10 of the dressing room and added seven - 40% of the dressing room left.

"This year two loan players left and two new come in. That means the chemistry and spirit is great. Everybody knows how we want to play because everybody was here last year."

When asked if he has asked for investment into the squad, Glasner says it is not solely about wanting players.

"It's not that I want investment - it's about Crystal Palace," Glasner said. "My expertise and my advice is what Crystal Palace should do to be competitive in four competitions.

"If we want to be better than last year, then let's sign at least two players. Not to be happy, not to fulfil my wishes, nothing at all.

"It's been a good summer, a good pre-season, I love the players and staff who are here. I love the club and the fans."

The Palace boss also revealed there had been no talks about extending his contract. beyond next summer when it expires.

"Again, at the moment it's three weeks time to get the squad done, so Oliver Glasner's contract is not important at the moment," he said.

Asked if what happens before the transfer deadline would impact whether he wants to talk about a new deal, the Palace boss said: "We will see."

Captain Marc Guehi's contract expires next summer and there has been interest in the defender from both Liverpool and Newcastle.

"Marc and me - we have the same fate." Glasner said with a smile. "I can't speak, you have to ask Marc. At the end, it's always the player's decision.

"Marc decides about his future. Of course, everybody wants Marc to sign a new contract. It will be his decision.

"Everybody wants to keep this squad together as it did so well. I don't know how often this happens here at Palace.

"We never know what will happen in this sometimes crazy transfer market."

You have been sharing your stories and photos about why you love Palace.

Here is a final selection of your submissions, but do make sure you scroll down this page to see all the best responses from throughout the week:

Harold: My first Palace game was in the 2004-05 season against Bolton Wanderers, played at home. I was taken by a friend and his dad who supported Arsenal and Tottenham respectively but had managed to get Palace season tickets that year.

Earlier in the same season I'd been taken to a Millwall home game by my godfather, who supported Millwall - an effort to woo me to the wrong side of south London.

It turns out that about 10 years before that, my dad had taken my mum to watch Palace against Sheffield Wednesday, in the away end, supporting Wednesday, as their first date!

Among a host of clubs that could have been chosen that year, I fell in love with Palace and was proud of them as my local club, having grown up in West Norwood.

That pride only gets stronger.

And all it took was losing 1-0 at home to Bolton!

Dave: Like so many, I fell in love with Crystal Palace after watching the 1990 FA Cup final. Seeing Ian Wright score those amazing goals and the team's kit caught my eye with the iconic "Fly to LA" shirts.

My dad used to take me to Palace's away games in the Midlands against Stoke City as this is where we lived. Palace always did well and I'd have to sit on my hands and not celebrate as we always scored against Stoke.

But inside I was bursting with pride. They will always be my team.