UEFA Excludes Crystal Palace from Europa League Amid Ownership Violations
Crystal Palace barred from UEFA Europa League due to multi-club ownership violations.
Key Points
- • Crystal Palace banned from UEFA Europa League for ownership rule violations.
- • Olympique Lyonnais confirmed to participate in the Europa League.
- • John Textor resigned and sold his stake in Crystal Palace.
- • Crystal Palace will instead compete in the Europa Conference League.
European football governing body, UEFA, has officially ruled that Crystal Palace will not participate in the UEFA Europa League for the upcoming season due to breaches of multi-club ownership regulations. This decision comes as both Crystal Palace and French club Olympique Lyonnais (OL) were found to have violated ownership rules set forth by UEFA's Club Financial Control Body (ICFC).
The ICFC's ruling, effective from March 1, 2025, specifically cited Article 5.01 of UEFA regulations, which prohibits individuals from controlling multiple clubs that compete in UEFA competitions. John Textor, who was previously an owner of both clubs, has since resigned from his position at OL and sold his shares in Crystal Palace to the owner of the New York Jets, which is awaiting Premier League approval.
As a result of this ruling, while Olympique Lyonnais has confirmed its qualification for the UEFA Europa League, Crystal Palace has been relegated to the UEFA Europa Conference League for the season. UEFA's decision signifies the stringent regulatory environment regarding club ownership and governance in European football, aiming to prevent potential conflicts of interest that could undermine competition integrity.
This ruling may still face challenges, as it remains subject to appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). The implications of this decision highlight the growing scrutiny over club ownership structures within UEFA competitions and their adherence to the governing rules.