On Tuesday, a Crystal Palace group met with UEFA for a ’emergency summit’ in Nyon, Switzerland.
UEFA has apparently determined which team will replace Crystal Palace in the 2025/26 Europa League after it was revealed that the organization’rejected’ bids from Eagles co-owners to place shares in a blind trust.
Crystal Palace’s participation in next year’s Europa League remains questionable, following reports earlier this week that the team may be in violation of UEFA multi-club ownership rules.
The problem concerns John Textor, who owns approximately 43 percent of the club, as well as his stakes in Ligue 1 side Lyon, which is also due to compete in the league.
It was suggested that Palace should be dropped to the Conference League, but this would exacerbate the situation because Palace’s principal shareholder, David Blitzer, also has a significant position in Danish club Brondby.
UEFA regulations exist to “ensure the integrity of the UEFA club competitions (i.e., the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, and the UEFA Conference League)”.
The rules provide that “No one may simultaneously be involved, either directly or indirectly, in any capacity whatsoever in the management, administration and/or sporting performance of more than one club participating in a UEFA club competition” .
On Tuesday, the football club convened a ’emergency session’ with UEFA authorities in Switzerland.
Shortly after, Textor talked with the Mail, suggesting that he sell his interests to allow the club to join.
The Guardian published an update on Thursday (June 5), and it does not look good for Oliver Glasner’s side.
The paper stated that “Uefa has rejected offers from the Crystal Palace shareholders John Textor and David Blitzer to put their shares in a blind trust to ensure the club can compete in Europe next season” .
Because of Brondby’s involvement and UEFA’s restrictions on multi-club ownership, the concept that the FA Cup winners could be relegated to the Conference League is likewise untenable.
Manchester City and Manchester United previously employed ‘blind trusts’ to ensure they could participate in Europe, but Palace “missed the registration deadline,” according to the article.
According to UEFA rules, any ownership changes must occur before March 1.
So, if Palace is barred from the Europa League, Nottingham Forest would virtually be promoted from the Conference League, while Palace’s Premier League rivals Brighton, who placed eighth, would compete in the third tier competition.
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