Crystal Palace's Europa League Dream Dashed by Ownership Rule Twist
Let’s talk about what just went down with Crystal Palace and their hard-earned shot at the Europa League—because it’s one of the most frustrating and dramatic off-pitch stories of the season.
So, Crystal Palace did the impossible: they won the FA Cup, beating Manchester City 1-0 in a historic Wembley final. For a club that had never lifted a major trophy or qualified for European competition, it was a fairytale moment. Players, fans, and even neutrals were swept up in the magic. That kind of win usually earns you a spot in the Europa League. And they thought they had punched their ticket to Europe.
But football isn’t just about what happens on the pitch anymore. Behind the scenes, it got complicated. Really complicated. The issue? UEFA’s multi-club ownership rules. Crystal Palace’s major shareholder, John Textor, also owns French side Lyon. UEFA determined that both clubs couldn’t compete in the same European competition due to the potential conflict of interest. Since Lyon finished higher in their domestic league, they got the Europa League spot. Palace? Bumped down to the Conference League.
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Now, here’s the twist that really stings. Palace argued that Textor doesn’t actually have “decisive control” over the club. He owns 43%, but Palace tried to convince UEFA that his influence isn’t strong enough to violate the rules. Textor himself even went on record saying he doesn’t make big decisions. But UEFA wasn’t buying it. To make matters worse, Palace missed a crucial March 1st deadline to restructure their ownership, which might have saved them.
Meanwhile, Nottingham Forest—who are now taking Palace’s Europa League place—had a similar issue. Their owner also owns Olympiakos. But Forest acted early, placing their ownership into a blind trust, making it clear to UEFA that they were compliant. And yes, it seems they were keeping a close eye on Palace too. Reports say Forest even sent a letter to UEFA questioning Palace’s eligibility. That move—whether you call it smart lobbying or sly strategy—definitely played a part.
Palace tried to salvage things by having Textor agree to sell his stake to Woody Johnson, a fellow American businessman, in a deal worth nearly £190 million. But it came too late. And even the brief hope that Lyon might be relegated due to financial troubles didn’t pan out. Lyon appealed and stayed up—keeping their Europa League license and sealing Palace’s fate.
Now, Palace is preparing to take their case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. But as of now, their spot in the Europa League is gone, their dream cut short not by another club’s performance, but by the complexities of ownership and missed deadlines.
This might just be the beginning of a new rivalry between Palace and Forest. It’s not about goals or tactics—it’s about boardrooms, blind trusts, and UEFA's red tape. And that’s where modern football increasingly lives.
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