Crystal Palace still threatened with Europa League expulsion after Uefa ruling
Crystal Palace still face the threat of expulsion from the Europa League after a Uefa ruling left them in limbo on Monday.
The relegation of French side Lyon to Ligue 2 and John Textor's imminent exit as a Palace shareholder appeared to clear the way for the FA Cup winners to compete.
However, with the club expecting a green light on Monday, Uefa's CFCB First Chamber instead announced it had 'decided to postpone its assessment of the multi-club ownership case involving Olympique Lyonnais and Crystal Palace'.
The panel will now await the outcome of Lyon's appeal against relegation before making a final decision on Palace's European-competition place.
A Uefa source confirmed: 'If Lyon's relegation is confirmed, Palace can take their place in the UEL. If Lyon stay up, then CFCB needs to decides on which of Palace or Lyon can play in UEL.'
'This postponement relates to Olympique Lyonnais' compliance with the settlement agreement concluded with the CFCB First Chamber for its breach of the financial sustainability requirements,' the chamber announced.
'As part of this settlement, Olympique Lyonnais agreed on an exclusion from the 2025/26 UEFA club competitions should the French authority (DNCG) confirm the club's relegation to Ligue 2. Further details on this multi-club ownership case and this settlement agreement will be communicated in due course.'
Sale missed March 1 deadline
Breach of competition rules concerns had been sparked because 43 per cent of Palace belonged to Textor, who also owns Lyon. Hours before the Uefa announcement, Textor also stepped back from the day-to-day management of the French club.
Michele Kang, owner of the London City Lionesses and Washington Spirit as well as OL Lyonnes, Lyon's women's team, has been appointed as chair and president at the club as a whole.
Lyon's demotion was provisionally announced by the DNCG, French football's financial watchdog, in November over financial irregularities. After relegation was confirmed last Tuesday, Textor said the club would appeal against the decision and that Lyon's financial position remained strong.
A day earlier, Textor agreed the sale of his Palace stake to American billionaire Woody Johnson. However, under Uefa ownership rules, changes are only typically accepted after a March 1 deadline.
Another delay in a final decision will be immensely frustrating for Palace. Johnson is understood to have paid about £200 million to buy the 42.9 per cent of the club previously owned by US investor Textor.
The deal was expected to satisfy Uefa that there are no multi-club issues. It is subject to approval by the Premier League and its owners and directors' test.
A Palace statement said: 'Crystal Palace Football Club can confirm that Robert Wood Johnson, 'Woody', an American businessman and co-owner of the New York Jets, has signed a legally binding contract to purchase Eagle Football's holding in the Club.
'Whilst the completion is pending approval from the Premier League and Women's Super League, we do not envisage any issues and look forward to welcoming Woody as a partner and director of the club.
'We would like to go on record to thank John Textor for his contribution over the past four years and wish him every success for the future.'
The development takes Textor out of the picture, leaving chairman Steve Parish, and original US investors Josh Harris and David Blitzer, to run the club with Johnson as a supportive partner.
Textor had neglected to place his shares in Ligue 1 Lyon in a blind trust by the early March deadline in order to comply with Uefa rules on multi-club ownership.
Palace's three other owners made their case to Uefa this month that there was no multi-club issue – they shared no recruitment, or sporting infrastructure with Lyon or indeed any other club in Textor's Eagle Football group.
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