Crystal Palace's potential participation in the upcoming Europa League season has been cast into uncertainty due to UEFA's multi-club ownership rules, but the club is reportedly downplaying the significance of John Textor's involvement in any attempts to secure their place in the competition.
Palace earned a spot in the Europa League after a remarkable FA Cup final victory over Manchester City in May. However, the fact that Textor, the outgoing major shareholder of Crystal Palace, also holds a majority stake in French club Lyon, which also qualified for the same competition, has triggered concerns. UEFA regulations stipulate that no individual or entity should have "control or influence" over more than one club participating in the same European competition.
To address these concerns, Textor agreed to sell his 43% stake in Crystal Palace to Woody Johnson, owner of the New York Jets. Although a "legally binding contract" has been signed, the completion of the sale is still pending approval from the Premier League and Women's Super League. It was announced that Textor had resigned from his leadership positions at Lyon as well.
Crystal Palace maintains that they operate independently of Lyon and do not share any employees, backroom staff, or coaches. They argue that their FA Cup triumph and subsequent Europa League qualification were achieved on their own merit, not through any benefits derived from a multi-club system. The club believes that preventing them from participating in the Europa League would be a disproportionate response.
UEFA has postponed its decision regarding Crystal Palace's eligibility for the Europa League, awaiting further clarification on Lyon's compliance with financial sustainability requirements. Lyon was relegated to Ligue 2 due to financial difficulties but has appealed the decision. UEFA has indicated that if Lyon's relegation is upheld, the French club would be excluded from European competition in the 2025/26 season.
The situation remains complex, with several possible outcomes. If Lyon's relegation is confirmed, Crystal Palace could be cleared to play in the Europa League. However, if Lyon wins their appeal, UEFA could potentially allow both clubs to participate, provided they are satisfied with the changes made to their ownership structures. Another possibility is that if Lyon wins their appeal, Crystal Palace would be bumped down to the Conference League. It is also possible that another club, such as Nottingham Forest, could launch a legal challenge to try and take Crystal Palace's place in the Europa League.
Despite the uncertainty, Crystal Palace appears to be confident that the changes in ownership structure will ultimately satisfy UEFA's concerns. The club is eager to participate in its first-ever European campaign and believes it has a strong case to be admitted to the Europa League.
