CRYSTAL PALACE could be cleared to play their first European campaign this week – as a direct consequence of Lyon’s shock relegation in France.
Uefa competitions chiefs will meet in Nyon on Friday to make a final decision on Palace’s eligibility to play in the Europa League.
GettyCrystal Palace are hoping to play in the Europa League after winning the FA Cup[/caption]
GettyLyon were relegated to the second tier by French football authorities[/caption]
But the barriers that could have denied the Eagles their opportunity to make club history have been significantly eased by the decision of French football’s financial regulator to demote Les Gones over the club’s soaring debts.
Under Uefa regulations, clubs that are part of a shared ownership group cannot compete in the same competition.
Lyon are part of the Eagle Football group owned by US businessman John Textor, who had a 44.9 per cent stake in Palace despite being kept at arms length by Steve Parish and Americans Josh Harris and Dave Blitzer.
Despite his limited role at Selhurst Park, Uefa were concerned that Textor’s ownership stake breached those regulations.
And while Palace qualified for the Europa League for their FA Cup win over Manchester City, Lyon’s sixth-placed finish in Ligue 1 gave them priority.
However, the decision by the French authorities – Lyon announced they would appeal – is understood to be likely to ease Palace’s path.
Assuming the French Football Federation now withdraws its nomination of Lyon – all teams competing in Europe must be put forward officially by their national association – Nyon insiders expect the Club Financial Control Body will now rule in Palace’s favour.
A decision could come immediately after the meeting although Eagles fans may have to wait until the start of next week before confirmation as the Palace situation is among a number of decisions that are on the agenda.
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It is understood that the official Uefa deadline for entry will be next week, following the eligibility rulings by the panel.
But if Lyon were to win their appeal after being excluded from the official entry list, Nyon chiefs anticipate they are likely to apply to the Court of Arbitration for Sport to be reinstated.
That would probably be at the expense of Strasbourg, part of the BlueCo group which owns Chelsea and who finished seventh in Ligue 1 and are expected to be nominated in Lyon’s place.
However, insiders anticipate that Palace would not be retrospectively prohibited from competing after the CFCB has cleared their entry.
The whole saga, though, has only shed further light on the issues multi-club ownership is causing to Uefa.
Manchester United owners Ineos parked their shares in French side Nice in a blind trust to allow both to play in the Europa League last season.
And Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis stepped back from any official role at the City Ground in April, to meet the Uefa requirements, when he hoped the East Midlanders would qualify for the Champions League alongside Greek side Olympiacos.
Palace, though, did not make any changes to the ownership structure ahead of the Uefa deadline for next season – a situation complicated by Blitzer’s ownership of Danish side Brondby, who qualified for the Conference League.
Earlier this week, Textor announced he had sold his Palace shares to New York Jets owner and former US ambassador to the UK Woody Johnson in a £190m deal.
That sale still has to be cleared by the Premier League, although it is not expected to be held up.
Lyon cited that deal as part of their official response to relegation – even if there was a danger that the agreement had been signed too late to allay Uefa’s concerns about Textor’s Palace role.
The club said: “Thanks to… the sale of Crystal Palace, our cash position has improved significantly, and we have more than sufficient resources for the 2025/26 season.
“With so much cash liquidity demonstrated, and sporting success which has earned European competition in two consecutive years, we sincerely do not understand how one administrative decision could relegate such a great French club.”
GettyThe confusion was around John Textor’s ownership of both Lyon and Palace – until he sold his Eagles shares[/caption]
GettyTottenham got their hands on the Europa League trophy in May[/caption] Creator – [#item_custom_dc:creator]
