New Delhi: Crystal Palace qualified for the Europa League by defeating Manchester City in the final of the FA Cup, but their participation in the European competition is doubtful due to their shareholder John Textor owning a stake in the French Club Lyon.
UEFA has already rejected the club’s shareholders’ offer to put their shares in a blind trust to ensure Crystal Palace can compete in Europe next season. Manchester United and Manchester City both used blind trust to ensure compliance with UEFA rules after their partner club Nice and Girona qualified for the Europa League and Champions League, respectively.
The owner of Nottingham Forest, Evangelos Marinakis, also transferred his shares when the Premier League club and his Greek club Olympiakos looked on track to qualify for next season’s Champions League. However, UEFA rules state that club ownership changes should be made before 1 March to take effect in time for the following season.
As per the BBC report, the hierarchy of Crystal Palace travelled to Switzerland on Tuesday to discuss the matter with the UEFA officials about their participation in the Europa League but the club have to wait until the end of the month to find out if they are able to play in the next season of the Europa League.
Lyon finished sixth in the Ligue 1 and qualified for the Conference League, but were promoted to the Europa League after Paris St-Germain (PSG) already qualified for the Champions League and also won the Coupe de France.
What do the UEFA rules say?
UEFA rules prohibit anyone from simultaneously being involved in any capacity whatsoever in the management, administration or sporting performance of more than one club participating in a UEFA club competition.
The prospect of Palace playing in the Conference League is also unlikely, as other shareholder David Blizter also has a stake in a Danish club, Brondby, which is also set to participate in European competition next season.
Crystal Palace defeated Manchester City by 1-0 in the final of the FA Cup and qualified for the Europa League 2025-26 season. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
