The selfish decision would have been to hope Manchester City won the FA Cup.

But who could deny the football romantic’s dream of Crystal Palace finally winning a major trophy? If Pep Guardiola’s side had lifted the cup on 17 May then Nottingham Forest, already guaranteed European football, would have gained a place in the Europa League without all the furore that has followed.

I, for one, was happy that the Eagles had some silverware in their cabinet – and hoped Forest would see their own way into the Europa League, or even the Champions League.

But at the end of the day – to use a football cliche – it all comes down to merit; you get what you deserve.

Of course, if you have broken the rules – inadvertently or not – then you get what you deserve. While it feels cruel to deny Palace what they have achieved, there is a reason Evangelos Marinakis put his shares into a blind trust.

The south London club will feel unfairly treated – but only in the same way that it felt when the Reds were docked points last year for falling foul of the PSR rules.

It is a messy affair and football authorities on both sides of the Channel are not making a lot of friends beyond the top clubs, who are rarely punished in this fashion. But who are we to look a gift horse in the mouth? If Forest are to take Palace’s place, then there will no play-offs to navigate next month, with a bigger prize to boot.

Last season, winning the Europa League last season was worth about £26.5m while, in contrast, the Conference League was only just over half at £15m. But beyond revenues, the winner takes a place in the Champions League.

As the current Europa League holders, Tottenham Hotspur’s new-found wealth has been the cause of anguish at the City Ground this week with a £60m move for Morgan Gibbs-White, following fellow Champions League qualifiers Newcastle United’s £55m bid for Anthony Elanga.

A place in the Europa League would be a welcome distraction from transfer woes, and something to seriously look forward to.

Find more from Pat Riddell at The Famous Club, external