YOU have to feel for Crystal Palace’s fans. They experienced the joy of their first ever trophy in May when they won the FA Cup with the prospect of European football in 2025-26. But one of the consequences of modern-day club ownership is the possibility that clubs could become conflicted if two of the same multi-club group find themselves in the same European competition. John Textor’s group includes Palace and Lyon who both qualified for the Europa League. Lyon, of course, have their own problems in that they have been relegated due to the club’s level of indebtedness. Lyon are appealing, so they may avoid the drop, which would mean Palace’s place in the competition is under threat. If, however, Lyon go down, they will voluntarily withdraw from the Europa. UEFA have postponed the verdict that was due on June 30, but Textor has since sold his stake in Palace. This issue has to be looked at closely, for clubs cannot be at the mercy of complex ownership models and owners themselves will not be happy about their “assets” being compromised. Perhaps the very nature of multi-club ownership has to be structured in such a way to avoid such conflicts. As we all know, for every problem created by finances, legalities and logistics, there are people out there working on solutions. As they say, for every obstacles, there are always opportunities. It would be harsh if Palace are denied the chance of European football.
**Club Summary: Bayern Munich – still playing after all these months**
IN THEORY, Bayern are still playing their 2024-25 season as they go in search of the FIFA Club World Cup. If they reach the final, which will be played on July 13, their season will have lasted 355 days including preparation games and 331 days without the friendlies. Bayern recaptured the Bundesliga in Vincent Kompany’s first season in charge, finishing 13 clear of champions Bayer Leverkusen. They lost just twice and scored 99 goals in 34 games in the Bundesliga. Harry Kane was again their leading marksman, netting 26 goals in the league and over 40 in all competitions. He’s still scoring now in the Club World Cup. Michael Olise, a close season signing from Crystal Palace for € 53 million, scored 21 and Jamal Musiala, who had an excellent campaign, netted 21. Olise was an astute acquisition who not only scored goals, but also claimed 20 assists. Bayern were beaten by Leverkusen in the DFB Pokal last 16 but reached the last eight of the UEFA Champions League. In the league phase, they hit nine against Dinamo Zagreb and five against Shakhtar Donetsk, but they were comprehensively beaten by Barcelona and Feyenoord. They disposed of Celtic and Leverkusen before being eliminated by Inter Milan in the quarter-finals. Ultimately, the league title was never in doubt for Bayern, but the next stage of their development under Kompany will be to make their mark on Europe once more.
**“It’s not the right place to host a competition” – the US weather sends alarm bells ringing**
THE FIFA Club World Cup is progressing to its climax but the latest match suspension has underlined the problem of excessive heat and climate unpredictability. Being held in a country that has dismantled some of its climate change initiatives should be a worry for the players and supporters of the participating clubs. Six games have been suspended, including the Chelsea versus Benfica last 16 match. The suspension lasted almost two hours with the only happy folk the concessions that surely made a lot of money from the captive audience of 25,000. Enzo Maresca, the Chelsea coach, was incensed by the delay and suggested that if you have to suspend seven or eight games in a tournament, then “probably this is not the right place to do this competition”. The round of 16 games played in Charlotte, Orlando, Miami and Atlanta were played in temperatures of 30 degrees and above and the last four will all take place in similar circumstances. Thunderstorms are forecast at some of the venues, so we may see more suspensions.
**Club Review: Barcelona – with youth on their side**
ALTHOUGH still exiled at the Montjuïc stadium, Barca’s free-scoring side won the La Liga title and completed the domestic double by lifting the Copa del Rey. Barca’s strength was their youthfulness, coupled with the scoring prowess of the veteran Robert Lewandowski. Their rising star, 17-year-old Lamine Yamal, captivated audiences at home and abroad, but others, such as Jules Kounde, Raphinha and Pedri all outstanding performers. Barca also had in their ranks new signing Dani Olmo, who cost € 55 million from RB Leipzig. In 38 league games, Barca scored 102 goals and hit five or more in a game five times. They netted eight over two meetings against old rivals Real Madrid, including a 4-0 win away from home. They finished four points clear of Real at the top and also beat them in the Copa del Rey final. In Europe, Barca had a number of exciting games, including a 5-4 win away at Benfica and a high-scoring semi-final against Inter Milan. They had the second best record in the league phase. Barca’s future is very much built around a group of young players who form part of the youngest squad in La Liga. Their biggest problem may be in finding a successor to 36-year-old Lewandowski, who scored 42 goals in all competitions in 2024-25.
Game of the People was founded in 2012 and is ranked among the 100 best football websites by various sources. The site consistently wins awards for its work, across a broad range of subjects. [View all posts by Neil Fredrik Jensen](https://gameofthepeople.com/author/georgefjord/)