Crystal Palace: Uefa delay decision on club’s Europa League fate
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Crystal Palace: Uefa delays decision on club’s Europa League fate
A decision on whether Crystal Palace can compete in next season’s Europa League has been delayed by Uefa. Co-owner John Textor, who also co-owns French club Lyon, has agreed to sell his 44% stake in Palace in a bid to help their case. Lyon were demoted to Ligue 2 last week by the French football authorities on account of their poor finances. The club are appealing against the decision but should they fail, they have agreed to relinquish their Europa League spot.
The Eagles’ place, earned by winning the FA Cup last season, has been under threat because of Uefa’s multi-club ownership rules, which prevents teams under the same ownership from competing in the same European competition.
Co-owner John Textor, who also co-owns French club Lyon, has agreed to sell his 44% stake in Palace in a bid to help their case.
A decision on Palace’s participation had been expected on Monday.
However, Lyon were demoted to Ligue 2 last week by the French football authorities on account of their poor finances.
The club are appealing against the decision but should they fail, they have agreed to relinquish their Europa League spot.
Uefa has therefore opted to wait until the outcome of the appeal before making a decision on Palace’s participation.
It is not known how long Lyon’s appeal will take, with Uefa stating further details will be announced in “due course”.
Sources have told BBC Sport that Palace were prepared for Monday’s decision once it was decided last week by European football’s governing body to delay an announcement on the matter.
In June, Irish Premier Division club Drogheda United were expelled by Uefa from the Conference League due to the Trivela Group, who owns the club, also owning Danish outfit Silkeborg.
Should Palace be granted a spot in the competition, they will enter the group phase which begins in September. The draw for the group phase is on 29 August.
Textor is in the process of selling his stake in Palace to New York Jets owner Woody Johnson.
The American, 59, resigned from his leadership role at Lyon on Monday after deciding to step back from the day-to-day running of the club, in which he owns a 77% stake.
Last October, Textor’s Eagle Football Group announced debts of £422m at Lyon.
The club said the decision to demote them into Ligue 2 was “incomprehensible” and that they would appeal the decision.
Why UEFA have delayed Crystal Palace ban decision amid Lyon and John Textor confusion
UEFA have delayed a decision on Crystal Palace’s Europa League entry. The Eagles believed they had secured their spot in Europe’s second-tier club competition following their FA Cup final victory over Manchester City in May. But doubts arose due to UEFA’s multi-club ownership rules. Outgoing Palace shareholder John Textor also holds an interest in French club Lyon, who have qualified for the same tournament. Lyon have agreed to a settlement which would see them excluded from European competition next season if their relegation to France’s second tier is confirmed. Lyon were relegated due to financial difficulties by French football’s financial regulator, the DNCG. Last week, it was revealed that Textor had agreed to sell his stake in Palace to New York Jets owner Woody Johnson.
Crystal Palace’s place in the Europa League next season is still to be determined after UEFA announced a decision had been postponed until further notice
Crystal Palace won last season’s FA Cup (Image: PA Wire/PA Images )
UEFA has delayed a decision on whether Crystal Palace will be admitted into next season’s Europa League.
The Eagles believed they had secured their spot in Europe’s second-tier club competition following their FA Cup final victory over Manchester City in May, but doubts arose due to UEFA’s multi-club ownership rules.
Outgoing Palace shareholder John Textor also holds an interest in French club Lyon, who have qualified for the same tournament. On Monday, UEFA stated it required more time to make a ruling and announced that Lyon had agreed to a settlement which would see them excluded from European competition next season if their relegation to France’s second tier is confirmed.
This demotion is currently being appealed by the French club. Lyon were relegated due to financial difficulties by French football’s financial regulator, the DNCG.
Last week, it was revealed that Textor had agreed to sell his stake in Palace to New York Jets owner Woody Johnson. On Monday, it was announced that he had stepped down from his leadership roles at Lyon as well.
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Whether these developments will aid Palace’s chances remains uncertain.
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Palace’s situation has been scrutinised under article five of UEFA’s club competition regulations, which stipulates that from 1st March this year, clubs wishing to qualify for the 2025-26 season must demonstrate that no individual or legal entity has control or influence over more than one club participating in the same competition.
Lyon’s superior league standing seems to give them the edge over Palace when it comes to European competition entry, as only one club can be entered if multiple fail to meet the criteria.
Outgoing Palace shareholder John Textor also holds an interest in French club Lyon (Image: Getty Images )
In a statement, Lyon announced that their settlement agreement with UEFA’s club financial and control body (CFCB) allows them “could therefore participate in next season’s Europa League, subject to a favourable outcome of the appeal of the DNCG decision”.
This suggests that Lyon’s Europa League fate is contingent on their appeal’s success, yet it remains to be seen whether UEFA would also allow Palace to compete if they comply with multi-club ownership regulations, or if Palace’s entry is solely dependent on the confirmation of Lyon’s demotion.
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Uefa POSTPONE decision on Crystal Palace’s Europa League fate indefinitely with club left in limbo
Uefa postpone decision on Crystal Palace’s Europa League fate indefinitely. John Textor, who is selling his majority share in Palace, also owns French side Lyon who have qualified for the competition alongside the south Londoners. Textor’s financial trouble at Lyon has seen the club relegated to Ligue 2. The seven-time French champions have appealed against the relegation but will forfeit their place in Europe should they fail. Uefa said: “The CFCB First Chamber has decided to postpone its assessment of the multi-club ownership case involving Olympique Lyonnais and Crystal Palace”
CRYSTAL BALL Uefa POSTPONE decision on Crystal Palace’s Europa League fate indefinitely with club left in limbo
CRYSTAL PALACE’S agonising Europa League limbo has been indefinitely extended.
The Eagles’ place in Europe next season is under threat due to Uefa’s multi-club ownership rules.
2 UEFA have once again delayed the ruling over Crystal Palace’s future in the Europa League Credit: AFP
2 Crystal Palace qualified for the Europa League by winning the FA Cup Credit: Alamy
John Textor, who is selling his majority share in Palace, also owns French side Lyon who have qualified for the competition alongside the south Londoners.
Palace bosses have been in talks with Uefa’s Club Financial Control Body to argue their case and were expecting a resolution this week.
However, with Textor’s financial trouble at Lyon having seen the club relegated to Ligue 2 the chaos drags on.
The seven-time French champions have appealed against the relegation but will forfeit their place in Europe should they fail.
In a statement on Monday, Uefa said: “The CFCB First Chamber has decided to postpone its assessment of the multi-club ownership case involving Olympique Lyonnais and Crystal Palace.
“This postponement relates to Olympique Lyonnais’ compliance with the settlement agreement concluded with the CFCB First Chamber for its breach of the financial sustainability requirements.
“As part of this settlement, Olympique Lyonnais agreed on an exclusion from the 2025/26 UEFA club competitions should the French authority (DNCG) confirm the club’s relegation to Ligue 2.
“Further details on this multi-club ownership case and this settlement agreement will be communicated in due course.”
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Announcing his decision to step back as Lyon president, Textor – who tried to buy Everton last year – confirmed his interest in buying another English club following the Palace sale.
He said: “On a personal level, I am truly looking forward to the reduction of my day-to-day management responsibilities in Europe, so I can focus on markets where we have the full freedom to run our football clubs…to invest, innovate, grow and compete.
“I will focus on Botafogo, Daring Brussels and our next club in England.”
Source: https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/crmvv2p8jelo