Crystal Palace Await UEFA Ruling on European Football Eligibility

FA Cup winners may face delay and disappointment as Europa League spot hangs in the balance.

Crystal Palace may have to wait nearly a month before finding out whether they can compete in next season’s Europa League. The Eagles earned their place in the tournament after a stunning FA Cup final victory over Manchester City, but their involvement remains uncertain due to UEFA ownership rules.

Under current regulations, UEFA prohibits individuals or groups from exerting influence over more than one club in the same European competition to prevent any conflicts of interest. John Textor’s Eagle Football group owns a minority stake in Palace and also holds a majority share in French side Lyon—who have also qualified for the Europa League.

Because Lyon finished higher in their domestic league, they are currently given priority over the South London club. In a bid to resolve the issue, Palace officials recently travelled to UEFA’s headquarters in Switzerland to state their case and request permission to compete.

However, according to a report by the BBC, a final decision from UEFA isn’t expected until the end of the month at the earliest. This delay puts Palace in limbo as they try to plan for next season—particularly with regard to transfers and squad development.

Manager Oliver Glasner has already acknowledged how European qualification could influence recruitment. “Financially, Crystal Palace won’t ever be a top-four club,” he said earlier this year. “And that’s fine—because not everyone can be. Since promotion in 2013, this club has always progressed, bit by bit.”

“We don’t want to act impulsively just because we’ve qualified for Europe. We’re not going to gamble everything on one season and risk long-term damage. Our path is about stability. It started before I arrived and it’s been clear and steady—staying in mid-table, building gradually.”

Glasner added that playing in Europe would be an important next step. “Winning the FA Cup, playing on the international stage, attracting players who previously may not have considered us—this experience can push us forward. But we’ll remain grounded in our approach.”

Palace’s situation isn’t unique. Nottingham Forest recently faced a similar issue with potential Champions League eligibility. Owner Evangelos Marinakis also controls Olympiacos in Greece. To comply with UEFA regulations, he placed his Forest shares into a blind trust, reducing his influence.

That route appears unlikely for Palace, however. Textor and Eagle Football reportedly do not hold controlling interest in the club, and thus may argue that Palace’s eligibility shouldn’t be affected.

For now, though, the Eagles must wait—and hope UEFA rules in their favour before their European campaign is due to begin.