Crystal Palace made to wait on Europa League place as UEFA delay verdict over John Textor ownership concern

According to The Standard, the delay stems from an ongoing investigation by UEFA’s independent Club Financial Control Body (CFCB), which is tasked with upholding the integrity of club competitions. The issue arises due to American businessman John Textor, who holds significant stakes in both Crystal Palace and French side Olympique Lyonnais. UEFA regulations prohibit any single person or entity from holding “decisive influence” over two clubs competing in the same UEFA competition.

Palace secured their Europa League spot by winning the FA Cup, while Lyon also earned a place in the same tournament. This dual involvement triggered the UEFA probe into Textor’s holdings. Textor owns approximately 43 per cent of Palace through Eagle Football Holdings, while simultaneously controlling Lyon. While he is a major investor, his role at Palace is not one of sole authority, something both he and Palace chairman Steve Parish have argued strongly to UEFA.

During a recent meeting at UEFA’s headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, both Textor and Parish presented their case to the CFCB. They emphasised the shared governance model at Palace, where board-level decisions require consensus among four key stakeholders, Textor, Parish, and co-owners Josh Harris and David Blitzer, each holding an equal 25% influence. Parish is also the active executive running the club’s day-to-day operations. Their argument is that such a structure means Textor does not have unilateral control over Palace, and therefore does not breach UEFA’s rules.

Further muddying the waters is Lyon’s precarious financial state. The French club has been forcibly relegated from Ligue 1 due to ongoing financial issues, casting serious doubt on their ability to compete in European competition at all. Lyon have indicated they will appeal their demotion, but their immediate future remains uncertain. If Lyon are officially removed from European competition, that could potentially simplify the case for Palace. However, UEFA has not commented on whether Lyon’s demotion would impact their assessment of Palace’s eligibility.

To fully resolve the ownership concerns, Textor has agreed to sell his Palace shares to fellow American investor Woody Johnson. That deal, however, is still awaiting approval from the Premier League and the Women’s Super League governing bodies. Had Textor opted to place his Palace or Lyon shares in a blind trust, UEFA may have greenlit both clubs’ participation. However, that deadline was missed, complicating matters further.