John Textor Reassures Crystal Palace Fans on Europa League Participation
Crystal Palace’s historic FA Cup victory over Manchester City in May 2025 secured their first-ever Europa League berth for the 2025/26 season, igniting excitement among fans. However, concerns have arisen due to UEFA’s multi-club ownership rules, as co-owner John Textor also holds a majority stake in Ligue 1’s Lyon, who qualified for the same competition. Despite fears of a potential ban, Textor has moved swiftly to reassure Palace fans and the club that their European dream remains intact, emphasizing the club’s compliance with UEFA regulations and their robust ownership structure.
UEFA’s rules, designed to ensure competition integrity, prohibit any individual from having “control or influence” over multiple clubs in the same European tournament. Textor, through his Eagle Football Holdings, owns a 43% stake in Palace and an 88% share in Lyon, raising concerns about a conflict. Reports suggest that if both clubs qualify, UEFA prioritizes the team with the higher domestic league finish—Lyon, who placed sixth in Ligue 1, over Palace, who finished 12th in the Premier League. This could push Palace to the Conference League, where another issue emerges: Palace co-owner David Blitzer’s majority stake in Brøndby, a Conference League participant.
Textor, addressing these concerns, expressed confidence in Palace’s Europa League participation. “Our ownership structure at Crystal Palace is distinct and compliant with UEFA’s regulations,” he stated. “I hold only 25% of the voting rights, shared equally with Steve Parish, Josh Harris, and David Blitzer. I don’t make unilateral decisions, and there’s no operational overlap between Palace and Lyon—no shared staff, facilities, or resources.” This diluted influence, with chairman Steve Parish leading operations, underpins Palace’s case, which Textor believes will satisfy UEFA’s Club Financial Control Body during their June 2025 review.
Drawing on precedents, Textor highlighted successful resolutions for clubs like Manchester United and Nice, and Manchester City and Girona, where blind trusts and operational separations allowed both to compete in UEFA tournaments. “We’re prepared to explore all options, including a blind trust if needed, though I’m confident our current setup meets UEFA’s criteria,” he added. Unlike AC Milan’s 2019/20 Europa League ban for Financial Fair Play breaches, Palace’s issue is ownership-related, and Textor noted that UEFA has not historically barred Premier League clubs for such conflicts, suggesting a tailored solution is likely.
Textor’s proactive stance aims to quell fan anxiety, especially after Palace played the Europa League anthem at Selhurst Park during their final 2024/25 home game. “Our fans deserve this historic moment, and we’re fully committed to ensuring Palace competes in the Europa League,” he affirmed. A potential ban could see rivals Brighton take Palace’s spot, a blow to finances and morale, but Textor’s assurances, backed by Palace’s confidence in their case, signal optimism. With an emergency UEFA summit scheduled, Textor’s leadership seeks to secure Palace’s European adventure, preserving the euphoria of their FA Cup triumph.
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