Crystal Palace receive boost in bid to play in Europe next season as UEFA chiefs deliberate over decision amid questions over FA Cup winners' ownership structure

Crystal Palace 's hopes of staying in Europe have been given an apparent boost after UEFA bosses asked the club to submit more information.
Officials in Switzerland are understood to have requested that Eagles bosses further outline the ownership and decision-making structure at Selhurst Park ahead of a decision over whether to expel them from next season's Europa League.
Mail Sport revealed that delegates from Palace had to attend a high-stakes meeting at UEFA headquarters earlier this month, as they seek to avoid falling foul of rules on multi-club ownership.
The FA Cup winners' historic place is at risk because John Textor, whose company owns 43 per cent of the club, is the majority owner at French side Lyon.
Textor, Palace chairman Steve Parish and other execs told a panel that the American businessman was not in a position of influence and did not make decisions on behalf of the club, given his stake comes with just 25 per cent of voting rights. As such, they feel there is no breach of UEFA rules.
Following the meeting, Textor told this newspaper that he had no control and that he was seeking to sell Eagle Football Holdings' stake in the club to ensure they could compete in the competition.
Crystal Palace's Europa League hopes have been boosted amid concerns over breaches of multi-club ownership rules
The FA Cup winners' spot is in doubt because John Textor, whose company owns 43 per cent of the club, also holds a majority stake in Lyon
It is understood there are three interested parties – a consortium including NBA star Jimmy Butler, New York Jets owner and former US ambassador to the UK Woody Johnson and a third, previously unknown group, thought to be US-based, global and big players in the entertainment industry.
Textor is thought to be willing to sell for £175m, which values the club at less than a previous offer from himself for total control. However, if Palace officials can persuade UEFA that Textor does not carry a key influence then there may well be no need for a sale.
A decision is due later this month and those with knowledge of the situation believe UEFA are keen to find a solution. Should Palace prevail, there may well be a legal challenge from Nottingham Forest, who would be 'promoted' from the Europa Conference League to the Europa League if they were expelled.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Reuters

18 minutes ago

• Reuters

UK's Unite says TotalEnergies offshore workers win boost to pay

June 20 (Reuters) - UK's Unite union on Friday said that offshore workers employed by TotalEnergies ( opens new tab had overwhelmingly backed a new pay deal negotiated by Unite. "Around 50 Unite members based on the Elgin Franklin and North Alwyn platforms agreed to an enhanced offer which amounts to a 2.25 per cent increase in basic pay alongside a five per cent increase in the offshore allowance," the union added.

Reuters

29 minutes ago

• Reuters

Macron calls for Europe to ramp up investment in space

PARIS, June 20 (Reuters) - French President Emmanuel Macron threw his weight behind plans for a unified European satellite manufacturing champion and called for accelerated deployment of satellites, as he set out a new space strategy at the Paris Airshow on Friday. Speaking after France moved to take control of satellite operator Eutelsat ( opens new tab, Macron called for accelerated efforts across the board from launch to satellite manufacturing and Starlink-like services as he declared space the next "gauge of power".

Reuters

29 minutes ago

• Reuters

Swiss to spend $329 million to support Geneva as diplomatic hub

ZURICH, June 20 (Reuters) - Switzerland will spend 269 million Swiss francs ($329.37 million) to support Geneva as a hub for international diplomacy, the government said on Friday, amid growing financial pressure on global institutions hit by spending cuts and lower donations. The money, which will cover the period of 2026 to 2029, comes as international organisations based in city face increasing competition from other cities to host them. Bern said it was making the funding available to reaffirm the "central role of international Geneva in Swiss foreign policy and its unique role in global governance." Geneva is a hub for global diplomacy, hosting more than 40 international organisations, including the United Nations, World Health Organisation, and the World Trade Organisation. In recent months, cuts in contributions or suspension of payments by individual member states have led to serious liquidity bottlenecks at international organisations. Numerous institutions based in Geneva have been forced to drastically reduce their budgets, cut staff or even consider relocating abroad, the government said. ($1 = 0.8167 Swiss francs)