Crystal Palace’s Europa League Dreams in Jeopardy Amid Ownership Conflicts
Crystal Palace’s hopes of competing in the Europa League are hanging by a thread after UEFA dismissed proposals from shareholders John Textor and David Blitzer to place their shares in blind trusts. The FA Cup winners are at risk of exclusion from European competition due to strict multi-club ownership regulations.
John Textor, who owns a 45% stake in Crystal Palace, also serves as the majority owner of French club Lyon, while David Blitzer holds ownership of the Danish club Brøndby. Both Lyon and Brøndby have qualified for UEFA competitions next season, creating a conflict under UEFA’s governance rules. This situation puts Palace’s inaugural Europa League campaign in serious peril.
UEFA Regulations at Play
The governing body of European football prohibits individuals from having control or influence over multiple clubs participating in the same UEFA competition. As a result, Crystal Palace’s participation in Europe is now uncertain. Textor, along with Palace chairman Steve Parish, met with UEFA officials in Nyon to seek a resolution.
However, UEFA has made it clear that they cannot offer any flexibility regarding ownership changes, as the club missed the critical deadline of March 1 for registering such arrangements. According to the rules, any ownership changes must occur before this date to be applicable for the upcoming season.
A Costly Oversight
Before March, European qualification seemed far from Palace’s concerns as they were mid-table in the Premier League and had not advanced beyond the FA Cup fifth round. Unfortunately, this oversight may lead to significant consequences for the club.
UEFA emphasized the necessity of applying regulations consistently, given that over 300 clubs participate in its competitions annually. The multi-club ownership rules are clear: no individual can simultaneously manage or influence more than one club involved in a UEFA competition.
Lyon’s Status Takes Precedence
While Palace’s European future is uncertain, Lyon’s standing is not at risk. UEFA prioritizes the club ranked highest in their domestic league, which in this case is Lyon, who finished sixth in Ligue 1, compared to Palace’s 12th place in the Premier League.
If Palace is excluded from the Europa League, Nottingham Forest, who finished seventh, could take their place, subsequently allowing Brighton, who finished eighth, to move into the Conference League.
Future Prospects
In light of these developments, Textor has expressed intentions to sell his 45% stake in Crystal Palace. However, the likelihood of completing this sale before the Europa League qualifying draw on June 17 remains low.
Crystal Palace now faces a race against time to resolve these ownership conflicts and secure their place in European competition. The situation serves as a stark reminder of the complexities of football ownership and the stringent regulations that govern the sport.
Stay tuned for updates on this evolving story as Crystal Palace navigates this challenging situation.
