Multi-club model: American John Textor owns a 43 per cent stake in Crystal Palace and an 88 per cent stake in Lyon through his Eagle Football group
However, Crystal Palace’s spot in the competition has since come under serious threat with Textor holding a 43 per cent stake in the club through his Eagle Football multi-club group, which also owns a controlling 88 per cent stake in French club Lyon, who also qualified for next season’s Europa League by finishing sixth in Ligue 1 this term.
UEFA rules states that no individual is allowed to have “control or influence” over the running of two clubs competing in the same competition.
European football’s governing body also says: “No one may simultaneously be involved in any capacity whatsoever in the management, administration and/or sporting performance of more than one club participating in a UEFA club competition.”
In cases where breaches are found, it is the club that finished higher in their domestic league that retains its place in the competition, which in this instance would be Lyon.
Read More
Guehi's future and Palace's plans for busy summer transfer window
Palace remain confident of Europa League spot ahead of crunch UEFA talks
Postecoglou breaks silence on Tottenham future amid Levy decision
SponsoredDiscover sustainable luxury at this breathtaking rainforest retreat
If Palace’s ownership was found to contravene the UEFA regulations, that would have originally meant them dropping down to the Conference League, because their 12th-place Premier League finish was lower than Lyon’s in Ligue 1.
But that Conference League spot could actually go to Danish side Brondby - owned by Palace minority shareholder David Blitzer - who reached the qualifying rounds after finishing third in Denmark’s Superliga this season, meaning Palace risk being removed from Europe altogether despite their historic FA Cup success.
Palace are confident that they do comply with those UEFA rules, believing that Textor cannot be said to have a controlling influence over the club due to the fact that the American only has a 25 per cent share of voting rights, alongside fellow co-owners Blitzer, Josh Harris and Steve Parish, the chairman who runs the club operationally on a daily basis.
UEFA were aware of the potential conflict last month but waited until Lyon’s Europa League place was confirmed before looking into the case and summoning Palace officials to a meeting held in Switzerland on Tuesday, after which Textor confirmed he is trying to sell his stake in the club having previously been rumoured to be plotting an audacious takeover attempt.
“Look, all of the UK knows that I don’t have decisive influence over Palace,” he told the Daily Mail. “It was a good meeting. They listened and we'll see what happens. I wouldn't be trying to sell (this stake) if I did.
“We are trying to help separate it and sell. We wanted to buy but it’s become clear that isn’t going to happen and so we’re trying to help Palace and the situation with UEFA. That’s about all I can say.”
If Palace were kicked out of Europe altogether, their Europa League berth would go to seventh-place Premier League finishers Nottingham Forest, who are in the Conference League as things stand. Palace’s rivals Brighton, who missed out on Europe after finishing eighth, would then move into the Conference League.
One solution could be for Textor to place either club in a blind trust for a year, thereby pausing any involvement or “influence” and allowing both Palace and Lyon to compete in the Europa League as planned.
Evangelos Marinakis has already placed Forest in a blind trust in order to comply with UEFA rules, because he is the controlling shareholder of both Forest and Greek champions Olympiacos, who will both be in Europe next season.