BREAKING: UEFA Delays Decision on Crystal Palace’s Europa League Eligibility
UEFA postpones ruling as Lyon’s relegation appeal impacts Palace’s Europa League hopes
- Crystal Palace’s participation in next season’s Europa League has been postponed by UEFA
- Textor has agreed to sell his 44% stake in Palace.
- The Irish club is owned by the Trivela Group
A decision on Crystal Palace’s participation in next season’s Europa League has been postponed by UEFA due to concerns over multi-club ownership regulations.
Palace secured their spot in the competition by winning the FA Cup in May—marking the club’s first-ever major trophy. However, complications have arisen because of the club’s ownership structure. Co-owner John Textor also holds a significant stake in French club Lyon, and UEFA rules prohibit clubs under the same ownership from competing in the same European tournament.
To help resolve the issue, Textor has agreed to sell his 44% stake in Palace. A verdict on the club’s eligibility had been anticipated on Monday, but recent developments involving Lyon have prompted UEFA to delay their decision.
Last week, Lyon were relegated to France’s Ligue 2 by the country’s football authorities due to severe financial issues. While the club is appealing the decision, they have agreed to forfeit their Europa League place if the relegation is upheld.
As a result, UEFA is waiting for the outcome of Lyon’s appeal before finalizing Palace’s status. It remains unclear how long the appeal process will take, with UEFA stating that further updates will be provided “in due course.”
Sources told BBC Sport that Palace had been expecting a ruling on Monday, but were informed last week that UEFA had opted to delay the announcement.
This situation follows a precedent set earlier this month when UEFA expelled Drogheda United from the Europa Conference League. The Irish club is owned by the Trivela Group, which also owns Denmark’s Silkeborg.
If Palace are cleared to compete, they will go straight into the Europa League group stage, which kicks off in September. The draw is scheduled for 29 August.
Meanwhile, Textor is in the process of selling his Palace stake to New York Jets owner Woody Johnson. The 59-year-old American stepped down from his executive role at Lyon on Monday, distancing himself from the club’s daily operations. He retains a 77% ownership stake in Lyon through his Eagle Football Group, which reported debts of £422 million last October.
