Saturday briefing: Crystal Palace consider appeal over UEFA ruling
World champions Spain marched into the Women's European Championship quarter-finals after beating Group B rivals Italy 3-1 in Bern.
Palace consider CAS appeal
Crystal Palace could appeal against UEFA's decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) (Dominic Lipinski/PA)
Crystal Palace have confirmed they are considering an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) after being demoted to the Conference League for breaching UEFA's rules on multi-club ownership.
Palace qualified for the Europa League thanks to their FA Cup final victory over Manchester City in May, but missed a March 1 deadline to demonstrate that American co-owner John Textor, also a part-owner at Lyon, had no control or influence over more than one club in the same competition.
UEFA's Club Financial Control Body (CFCB) determined that Textor's interest in both Palace and Lyon meant only one of the clubs could enter the Europa League, with Lyon's higher league position edging out Palace.
A Palace statement read: 'Crystal Palace FC are extremely dismayed by UEFA's decision to exclude the club from the Europa League.
'It's clear for everyone to see that we are not part of a multi-club operation and never have been. Further with the completion of the sale of Eagle football's shareholding to Woody Johnson there will be zero possibility of a conflict of interest once the competition begins.
'We will continue to press our case and work with UEFA to achieve the fair and just outcome so that we may take our rightful place in the Europa League, as well as taking legal advice to consider our options, including an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).'
Forest consider legal action against Spurs
Morgan Gibbs-White's £60million release clause is understood to have been triggered (Richard Sellers/PA)
Nottingham Forest are considering legal action against Tottenham over an alleged illegal approach for Morgan Gibbs-White.
The England international was set for a medical in north London on Friday after Spurs were understood to have triggered Gibbs-White's £60million release clause.
However, Forest have accused the Europa League winners of contacting Gibbs-White directly rather than making an official approach.
The PA news agency understands Forest are furious and, in response, are drawing up legal papers with a view to reporting Spurs to the Premier League.
As result, the deal appears to be on hold, although Forest are powerless to stop it happening if Spurs go through the proper channels.
Lionesses 'gained respect' – Hemp
Lauren Hemp played her part in England's much-needed win over the Netherlands (Nick Potts/PA)
Lauren Hemp feels England gained the respect they deserved after turning around their Women's European Championship defence with a resounding 4-0 group-stage victory over the Netherlands.
The Lionesses will reach the quarter-finals with victory over Wales on Sunday night in St Gallen and the mood in camp is decidedly more jovial than it was following their opening loss to France, which had left them in a perilous position.
Forward Hemp said: 'It was important that we turned it around and we proved to the fans, we proved to everyone, that we're here to compete and we're here to win.
'Obviously we never want to lose, but it was important that we made sure that we got ourselves right back in it, and I think we gained the respect that we deserved as a group.'
Spain march on at Euros
Spain's Patri Guijarro, centre, celebrates after scoring her side's second goal against Italy (Martin Meissner/AP)
Spain made it three straight wins at Euro 2025 after hitting back to beat Italy 3-1 in Bern and finish top of Group B.
Italy took an early lead through Elisabetta Oliviero, but Spain responded through Athenea del Castillo and Patricia Guijarro before half-time and Esther Gonzalez's stoppage-time effort sealed victory.
The world champions had already qualified for the quarter-finals after thrashing Portugal 5-0 and Belgium 6-2 in their previous two group games and will now face hosts Switzerland.
Italy also qualified for the last eight after finishing second in the group having taken four points from their first two matches.
What's on today?
Germany and Sweden will battle it out against each other in Zurich to see who will finish top of Group C at the Women's European Championships.
Both teams have already qualified for the quarter-finals, while Poland face Denmark in Lucerne, where both teams will bid for their first tournament win in their final group match.
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