Crystal Palace fans hoping for clarity on their club’s European future will need to stay patient a little longer.
UEFA has announced a delay in its decision regarding a complicated multi-club ownership issue involving Palace and French side Lyon.
Historic Season Meets Administrative Hurdles
After a dream season that saw the Eagles lift their first major trophy and qualify for Europe for the first time, hopes were high for a smooth entry into UEFA competitions.
But their celebrations hit a roadblock.
The issue? Both Palace and Lyon are tied to the same ownership group—Eagle Football Holdings, which owns a 43% stake in each club.
This overlap triggered UEFA’s multi-club ownership rules, designed to avoid conflicts of interest when clubs under the same umbrella compete in the same European tournament.
Textor Tries to Fix It—But Lyon’s Relegation Complicates Things
John Textor, the outgoing major shareholder of Palace and president of Lyon, tried to head off trouble by selling off his shares.
But complications piled up after Lyon were relegated to Ligue 2 due to financial breaches.
They’re now appealing that decision with France’s football finance watchdog, the DNCG.
That appeal means UEFA can’t move forward yet.
In a statement, they explained that they’ve decided to postpone their review of the Palace-Lyon case due to Lyon’s ongoing situation.
Notably, under a prior settlement with UEFA, Lyon agreed that if the DNCG confirms their relegation, they’d be barred from UEFA competitions in the 2025/26 season.
Textor Bows Out—and Teases a New English Project
Meanwhile, Textor has stepped away from his position at Lyon.
In a personal statement, he said he’s looking forward to stepping back from day-to-day management in Europe and shifting focus elsewhere.
He named clubs like Botafogo and RWD Molenbeek (Daring Brussels) as part of his plans—and even hinted at acquiring another English club soon.
“Each of our clubs deserves strong, locally engaged leadership,” he said, adding that Michele Kang will now take the reins at Lyon.
He praised her as the right person to guide the French club through this turbulent phase.
Lyon Could Still Snatch Palace’s Europa Spot
According to UEFA’s rules, when two clubs under the same ownership qualify for Europe, only one can participate—typically the one with the higher domestic league finish.
Lyon finished sixth in Ligue 1, while Palace were twelfth in the Premier League.
So, if Lyon’s appeal is successful and they stay in Ligue 1, they could end up taking Palace’s Europa League spot. However, Palace remain optimistic.
They argue that the clubs don’t share players, facilities, or any meaningful operational resources, which they hope will work in their favor.
Palace’s Ownership Breakdown Could Offer Hope
Palace’s internal ownership structure may also help their case.
Although Eagle Football owns 43% of the club, Textor’s group holds only a quarter of the voting rights.
Key decision-makers include chairman Steve Parish and investors Josh Harris and David Blitzer—suggesting that Palace runs independently from Lyon in practice.
What’s Next?
UEFA has promised to share more updates “in due course,” but for now, everything is in limbo.
Palace fans will be holding their breath, hoping that their historic European journey doesn’t get cut short by boardroom technicalities.