Why Crystal Palace fans have no reason to worry about John Textor and Lyon ruining the UEFA Europa League dream

Crystal Palace secured a spot in the UEFA Europa League for next season by winning the FA Cup.

The Eagles will be playing European football for the first time ever in the 2025/26 campaign after a goal from Eberechi Eze, a target for Arsenal, sealed a 1-0 win over Manchester City at Wembley, but there is already a problem emerging.

UEFA hold rules on multi-club ownership groups being involved in their competitions, and with John Textor’s Lyon potentially qualifying for the UEFA Europa League too if PSG beat Reims in the French Cup final, there are fears Crystal Palace could be blocked from playing in the competition.

However, there is no reason for those fears to deepen.

Manchester United and Manchester City have already proven how relaxed these UEFA rules really are

Crystal Palace and Lyon are far from the only clubs to have the same owner nowadays.

Both Manchester City and Girona are owned by the City Football Group, and a similar conversation happened last summer when the latter impressively qualified for the UEFA Champions League.

However, UEFA still allowed both sides to compete in the competition together, stating that the two clubs “will not transfer players to each other, whether permanently or on loan, directly or indirectly, from July 2024 until September 2025, with the exception of pre-existing transfer agreements.”

Manchester United and OGC Nice also found themselves in this situation, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe having an influence in both clubs, but UEFA said they were satisfied no single person had “control or decisive influence” in the two sides “following the implementation of significant changes by the concerned investors” at Old Trafford and the Allianz Riviera.

To be safe and appease UEFA, it was well documented that Manchester United backed out of a deal to sign Jean-Clair Todibo from OGC Nice.

The south Londoners may have to do likewise. Crystal Palace are keen to sign Rayan Cherki from Lyon, but any deal would potentially lead UEFA to enforce their rules over multi-club ownership.

Unique Steve Parish position likely to ensure Crystal Palace are fine

In regard to Crystal Palace, significant changes arguably do not even have to be made.

While Textor is the majority shareholder with 45% of the club, Steve Parish – Chairman at Selhurst Park – has the final say on decisions, despite owning just 10% of Crystal Palace.

Ed Aarons of the Guardian even wrote in January 2024: “(I) understand Textor has been growing increasingly frustrated at lack of control at Palace and the club’s direction under Parish. Eagle Football Holdings also planning to float on stock exchange in coming months.”

TBR Football understand the American is hoping to sell his 45% stake before the start of next season regardless.

Textor is more heavily involved at Lyon, but with Parish having a stronghold on decision making at Crystal Palace, we cannot see UEFA blocking one of the clubs out of the Europa League, so long as no trading occurs between the two sides.

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