As Crystal Palace fans celebrated their historic FA Cup triumph over Manchester City at Wembley, dreams of European nights at Selhurst Park filled the air. The club’s first major trophy had seemingly secured them a coveted spot in next season’s Europa League, but those aspirations now hang in the balance due to modern football’s complex ownership structures.
Today, Palace executives face a crucial meeting with UEFA officials that could determine whether their European adventure ever takes flight. The issue stems from the club’s ownership model: American businessman John Textor holds a 43% stake in Palace while simultaneously serving as majority shareholder at Lyon, who have also qualified for the Europa League. Additionally, Palace co-owner David Blitzer’s investment vehicle owns Danish side Brondby, who are in contention for the Europa Conference League.
UEFA regulations prohibit clubs with the same owners from competing in identical competitions to preserve sporting integrity. While UEFA relaxed some rules last season to allow clubs under the same ownership groups to compete in different tournaments, Palace’s situation remains precarious as they finished lower in their domestic league than both Lyon and Brondby.
The South London club is expected to argue that Textor’s majority stake only grants him 25% of voting rights and that he has no control over football operations. However, UEFA has historically taken a strict stance on such matters, rarely accepting compromises in similar cases.
Should Palace’s appeal fail, the consequences extend beyond disappointed supporters. A forced sale of Textor’s stake seems unlikely given the circumstances, potentially creating a prolonged ownership dilemma. Adding insult to injury, arch-rivals Brighton & Hove Albion, who finished eighth in the Premier League, would likely inherit Palace’s European spot.
The situation highlights the growing tension between traditional football values and modern investment models. Multi-club ownership structures have proliferated across European football, with City Football Group (Manchester City), Red Bull (Leipzig, Salzburg), and INEOS (Manchester United, Nice) all navigating similar regulatory challenges.
For Palace fans, the situation is particularly cruel. After decades without major silverware, their moment of triumph may be overshadowed by boardroom complications that few supporters could have anticipated when celebrating their underdog victory at Wembley just weeks ago.
