Crystal Palace’s participation in the 2025–26 Europa League hangs in the balance as UEFA investigates potential conflicts of interest arising from multi-club ownership links involving American investor John Textor.
Sources indicate a final decision on Palace’s eligibility is now expected toward the end of June, following a meeting this week in Switzerland between club officials and UEFA representatives.
At the heart of the issue is Eagle Football, the multi-club ownership group led by Textor, which owns a 90% stake in French side Lyon and a 45% stake in Palace. Lyon have also qualified for next season’s Europa League, finishing sixth in Ligue 1 — a higher league position than Palace, who secured European football by winning the FA Cup.
UEFA prohibits individuals or entities from controlling multiple clubs in the same European competition to avoid conflicts of interest. While Lyon are considered fully under Eagle Football’s control, Palace argue that Textor does not wield decisive influence at Selhurst Park, pointing out that he has failed in past attempts to secure a majority stake and has recently been trying to sell his shares.
Eagle Football maintains that Palace are not formally part of its multi-club group. The Eagles have no operational links to other clubs within the network, nor have they transferred players among them, a point the club’s legal team is reportedly using to support their case.
A ruling from UEFA’s Club Financial Control Body is now awaited, with Palace fans and staff facing an anxious few weeks as the club’s European fate remains unresolved.
