Crystal Palace’s Europa League Dream at Risk Amid Ownership Controversy
What was shaping up to be a fairy-tale season for Crystal Palace — clinching their first-ever FA Cup in May 2025 and earning a place in the 2025/26 Europa League — now faces a potential nightmare ending before the new campaign even kicks off.
Despite their historic triumph, reports suggest Palace could be disqualified from the competition due to UEFA’s rules on multi-club ownership. The concern centers on John Textor, who owns a 43% stake in Palace and also controls French side Lyon, another team set to compete in the Europa League next season — a direct violation of UEFA’s integrity rules.
Textor, along with co-owner David Blitzer, attempted to sidestep this issue by placing their shares in a “blind trust” — transferring control to independent trustees. However, UEFA rejected this move, citing missed deadlines. Other clubs, like Manchester City and Manchester United, used similar tactics last season but filed changes before the required March 1 cutoff.
To resolve the conflict, Textor is reportedly trying to sell his stake in Palace, but progress has been slow. If unresolved, the Eagles could be barred from all European competitions, opening the door for Nottingham Forest to take their Europa League spot. Even a fallback to the UEFA Conference League may be off the table, as Blitzer has a stake in Danish side Brøndby, another club already qualified for that tournament.
Palace now anxiously await UEFA’s final decision, expected by July 2025, hoping their breakthrough season doesn’t end in heartbreak.