Crystal Palace's participation alongside Aston Villa in the Europa League is currently in doubt because of multi-club ownership issues
Crystal Palace directors John Textor, left, Mark Bright, centre and Steve Parish
Crystal Palace directors John Textor, left, Mark Bright, centre and Steve Parish
(Image: AP)
Crystal Palace, the Premier League side who are due to join Aston Villa in next season's Europa League, are sweating on whether or not they'll be permitted to participate in the competition because of potential multi-club ownership issues.
Palace beat Villa in the FA Cup semi-final in April and then defeated Manchester City, against the odds, at Wembley in the final last month, to book their place in European competition next season, one of nine English clubs to do so.
The Eagles are chaired by Steve Parish but part owned by American John Textor, who also owns French side Lyon which makes up part of his Eagle Football group. Lyon also qualified for the Europa League next term - and multi-club ownership isn't permitted in UEFA competitions.
Palace, who haven't been in Europe since they partook in the Intertoto Cup in 1999, have argued that Textor doesn't have decisive control at Selhurst Park, in response to UEFA's ruling that individuals or groups cannot have control of more than one club participating in the same competition.
In the event only one of Lyon or Palace can partake, then UEFA will rule in favour of the Ligue 1 side because they finished higher in their respective domestic league than Palace, whose board flew to Switzerland this week to meet with UEFA officials about how best to proceed to ensure they are given the green light.
Palace, who Textor has a 45% stake in, are expected to find out by the end of June as to whether they'll be permitted to take part in the Europa League. Rivals Brighton and Hove Albion, who finished eighth, could be in line to benefit if Palace's European place falls to the next highest finishing English club.
Dropping into the Conference League for the Eagles isn't exactly an option, either, as another co-owner of the club, David Blitzer, is listed as the majority shareholder in Brondby, who are partcipating in that particular European competition. In the event Palace miss out, Brighton would be in the Conference League and Nottingham Forest upgraded to the Europa League with Villa.
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