NOTTINGHAM FOREST have reportedly written to Uefa over concerns about Crystal Palace taking part in the Europa League.
Palace’s historic FA Cup final win over Manchester City booked their place in Europe for the first time.
AFPCrystal Palace’s European dreams could be ruined over an ownership issue[/caption]
GettyThe Eagles lifted the FA Cup at Wembley to secure a Europa League spot[/caption]
But complications around John Textor’s stake in both Palace and French club Lyon have resulted in the South Londoners’ spot being in doubt.
Textor is the majority owner of Lyon and Palace’s largest shareholder at 43 per cent.
Uefa rules on multi-club ownership prevent any two clubs controlled by the same person or group from competing in the same competition.
The American could have placed his Eagles shares into a blind trust, as many other owners have done to avoid this outcome, though the deadline to do so was March 1.
Palace have already met with Uefa in Switzerland arguing that Textor has no controlling influence at Crystal Palace.
Both Palace and Lyon have qualified for next year’s Europa League, but the Ligue 1 side would have precedence as they finished higher in their domestic league.
And now The Times state Forest are in contact with European football’s governing body to highlight the potential breach.
The final decision could hinge on Lyon, who were disqualified by Uefa’s Club Financial Control Body from European competitions in December over their financial woes which saw them provisionally relegated from Ligue 1 a month earlier.
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But they were allowed to continue in the Europa League, eventually dramatically dumped out by Manchester United in the quarter-finals, after complying with certain demands.
Should Palace be kicked out of the Europa League, it is understood Nottingham Forest would be promoted from the Conference League and take the Eagles’ Europa League place.
And should the Selhurst Park club be demoted to the Conference League, that will likely lead to a legal challenge from rivals Brighton – who finished eighth in the Premier League so would be next in line for a Euro spot.
Whichever way the decision goes, Palace or Forest may well take the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
The City Ground outfit made the necessary changes to their ownership structure when it became apparent both they and owner Evangelos Marinakis’ other team Olympiacos could both qualify for the Champions League.
SunSport understands senior figures at the club are confident they will be able to find an agreement with Uefa which will see them take part in the Europa League next season.
The Club Financial Control Body are not expected to announce their decision until June 27 but a resolution could come sooner should Textor simply sell his shares.
The 59-year-old has been looking to offload his stake in Palace for some time now following a breakdown in relations with chairman Steve Parish.
PANottingham Forest and Olympiacos owner Evangelos Marinakis took the necessary precautions to enable his sides to be in the same Uefa competition[/caption]
AlamyForest had to settle for a place in the Conference League after defeat on the final day of the season[/caption] Creator – [#item_custom_dc:creator]
