Dean Henderson, custodian for Crystal Palace, feels that the team should have been in the Europa League following their victory over Liverpool in the Community Shield on Sunday.
Whether Palace will play in the Europa League or the Europa Conference League this season will be revealed today (Monday).
Because American businessman John Textor owns a portion of the club and is the majority owner of Lyon, who also qualified for the Europa League, the Eagles were demoted to the Uefa Conference League as punishment for violating the rules governing multi-team ownership.
Palace Relegated to Conference League
They filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) against their demotion.
Henderson claimed in an interview with BBC Sport that the club had merited their spot in the Europa League.
We don’t give it much thought at the end of the day, as you will see by today. We have earned a spot in the Europa League after winning the FA Cup.
“We should be in the Europa League for football reasons. Unfortunately, I believe that if we weren’t in the Europa League, the competition would lose its value.
“I believe that every neutral football fan would agree that rewards should be given for accomplishments on the pitch. We shall see. I’m confident that we are in the Europa League as we deserve to be because I know that the chairman, Steve Parish, has worked hard against it.
“I am aware that the first trophy and opportunity to visit Europe have been coveted by Crystal Palace supporters for 120 years, if not longer.
“I think everyone would agree that it is just wrong for football to have that taken away from us.” They will undoubtedly realise their mistake and reinstate us in the Europa League.
