Crystal Palace to urgently meet UEFA over Europe ban
Crystal Palace’s historic qualification for European football could be short-lived, as they’re now racing against time to convince UEFA they deserve a spot in next season’s Europa League. According to the PA news agency, Palace will meet with UEFA officials on Tuesday to plead their case, after their dramatic FA Cup final win over Manchester City on May 17 earned them not only their first major trophy, but also a place in Europe. However, their involvement is under threat due to UEFA’s multi-club ownership rules. The club must prove they haven’t breached regulations that prohibit one individual from exerting significant influence over two teams competing in the same UEFA competition.
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The ownership complication
At the center of the issue is John Textor, who owns 43% of Crystal Palace through his company Eagle Football. The problem? Textor also owns French side Lyon, who have also secured a Europa League spot after finishing sixth in Ligue 1. UEFA’s club financial control body (CFCB) is now reviewing whether this constitutes a conflict of interest. While it seems tricky on the surface, Palace are optimistic. Textor’s voting rights at Palace reportedly only account for 25%, with the remaining influence split between other major stakeholders, including Josh Harris, David Blitzer, and club chairman Steve Parish. Parish, who runs the club’s day-to-day operations, has reportedly clashed with Textor before, especially after Textor tried and failed to take over Everton. Palace argue that Eagle Football doesn’t have the authority to make big decisions at the club, and they insist they have no control over Lyon.
What happens if UEFA says no?
Should UEFA rule against Palace, Lyon would retain their place in the Europa League due to their higher league finish. But the consequences won’t stop there. Blitzer, who co-owns Palace, also has a stake in Brondby, a club that just secured a Europa Conference League spot. This multi-club web could potentially block Palace from playing in the Europa Conference League too, depending on UEFA’s final decision. If that happens, Nottingham Forest—who finished seventh—would take Palace’s Europa League spot, and Brighton, currently eighth, could then claim Forest’s Conference League spot. UEFA hasn’t made an official statement yet, only noting that rulings on multi-club ownership cases for the 2025–26 season will be revealed sometime in June. Last year, Manchester City and Girona, as well as Manchester United and Nice, were all cleared to compete in UEFA competitions despite similar ownership ties. Palace will be hoping for the same kind of outcome.
