Drogheda United recently faced a ban from European competition after an unsuccessful appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas). However, there are notable differences when compared to the situation involving Crystal Palace.

The ban on Drogheda United stems from UEFA regulations that prevent two clubs under the same ownership structure from participating in the same competition. The team, owned by the US-based Trivela Group, shares ownership with Danish side Silkeborg. As a result, Drogheda United has been expelled from the Conference League for the upcoming season.

On the other hand, Crystal Palace is currently fighting to secure a spot in the Europa League for the next season. While Drogheda expressed disappointment and surprise at the Cas ruling, Palace fans are anxiously awaiting a decision on their fate in the Europa League.

One critical distinction between the two cases lies in the ownership structures. Trivela Group has full ownership of both Drogheda and Silkeborg, while John Textor, who owns Lyon, holds only a 42 per cent stake in Palace and is not directly involved in the club's operations.

Palace, as winners of the FA Cup, are awaiting confirmation on their eligibility for the Europa League. Textor has been exploring options to sell Eagle Football's stake in Palace to facilitate their participation in the tournament. Additionally, he has initiated the process of listing Eagle Football for an IPO, which involves offering shares to the public for the first time.

Another significant difference is the timing of the FA Cup victories. Drogheda secured their FAI Cup win in November, well before UEFA's ownership structure deadline of March 1. In contrast, Palace's FA Cup triumph occurred in May, after the stipulated deadline.