Crystal Palace facing shock Europa League expulsion as FA Cup winners head for emergency summit with UEFA

The Eagles side earned their Europa League place after a stunning FA Cup final win over Manchester City, but they could be denied the chance to compete in the continental competition due to UEFA’s restrictions on clubs with shared ownership structures, as reported by The Daily Mail. The issue stems from American investor John Textor’s involvement with multiple clubs, with him holding approximately 43 per cent of Palace's shares while also serving as the principal shareholder at French outfit Lyon, who have also qualified for the Europa League.

Under UEFA regulations, two clubs with overlapping ownership interests are barred from participating in the same European competition to ensure sporting integrity. Textor’s dual ownership of Lyon and Palace places both clubs in a difficult position, with Palace potentially being removed from the Europa League unless a solution is found.

There has been speculation that a compromise could see Palace shifted to the Europa Conference League. However, that path appears to be blocked as well. Brondby, a Danish side co-owned by another Palace investor, David Blitzer, are already in a play-off for that competition. As per UEFA's stipulations, when multiple clubs under the same ownership group qualify for Europe, the team with the higher domestic league finish retains the slot.

Based on this rule, Palace’s case is further complicated. While Lyon secured sixth place in Ligue 1 and Brondby came third in the Danish Superliga, Palace finished 12th in the Premier League. This puts them at the bottom of the pecking order among the three clubs, making them the most likely to be sacrificed if UEFA enforces its regulations strictly.

Despite the clear complications, Palace are said to be optimistic about their case. Their primary argument centres on the limited influence Textor holds at Selhurst Park. Although he owns a sizable portion of the club, he reportedly holds only 25 per cent of the voting rights, equal to that of co-owners Steve Parish, Josh Harris, and David Blitzer. Moreover, Palace assert that there are no shared assets, personnel, or operational ties between them and Lyon, suggesting a clear line of independence between the two entities. Whether this distinction will satisfy UEFA’s definition of separate ownership remains uncertain.

Time is running short, and the options on the table are limited. One theoretical solution could involve Textor placing his Palace shares into a 'blind trust' to suspend his influence temporarily. Another, less likely possibility is a rapid sale of his stake, though this would be difficult to execute at short notice and he may not fetch a desirable price.

A UEFA spokesperson said: "Please be informed that decisions regarding multi-club ownership cases for the 2025-26 season will be announced in due course during June. We do not comment on individual club cases until an official decision has been made."

If UEFA ultimately rules against Palace, the consequences could be severe. Nottingham Forest would be promoted to the Europa League, while Brighton, who also finished above Palace in the Premier League, would be handed the Conference League spot.

In a symbolic moment of triumph, the Europa League anthem was played at Selhurst Park during the club’s final home game of the season. But unless Palace can persuade UEFA to keep them in Europe in the coming days, that celebration may have been premature.