Crystal Palace Europe ban latest after new twist – ‘there’s no doubt…’
Nottingham Forest have thrown their hat into the ring this week as Uefa ponder Crystal Palace’s admission into next season’s Europa League.
The Times have reported (9 June) that Forest have written to Uefa to express their concerns about the Eagles competing in Europe’s second-tier competition.
Uefa’s rules prevent individuals from being involved with more than one club in the same competition to avoid a conflict of interest.
John Textor, minority shareholder at Palace, owns French club Lyon – who have qualified for the Europa League alongside the Eagles – who won the FA Cup.
Forest potentially stand to benefit from a Palace ban after finishing seventh and qualifying for the Uefa Conference League.
Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – has had his say on the outcome of Uefa’s probe into Palace’s ownership.
Crystal Palace expected to avoid ban, says Wyness
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Wyness insisted he still expects Palace to play European football despite Forest’s intervention.
Textor is the majority shareholder at Selhurst Park, holding a 43% stake in the club – but is widely reported to be ready to sell for £170million.
Wyness insisted there is “no doubt” that chairman and minority shareholder Steve Parish is the “power” at Crystal Palace.
| Position | Team | Played | Points | GD |
| 10 | Brentford | 38 | 56 | 9 |
| 11 | Fulham | 38 | 54 | 0 |
| 12 | Crystal Palace | 38 | 53 | 0 |
| 13 | Everton | 38 | 48 | -2 |
| 14 | West Ham | 38 | 43 | -16 |
He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “The more I read about this, the more complex it becomes.
“Going back to basics, Palace have qualified on merit. That’s the starting point.
“It’s something that should be recognised.
“It has been pretty widely recognised that while Textor is the majority shareholder at Palace, he does not control things in the same way as Marinakis.
“Parish has always called the shots. I’ve done player deals with him, there’s no doubt that he is the one who makes the decisions. I don’t think he even goes to the board in many cases.
“He’s the power at Palace.
“Should Textor have put his shares in a blind trust? Could he have even done it when he was trying to sell the shares?
“Those are questions and issues I don’t know whether Uefa will look into.
“Forest feel Palace did not comply with the rules as they did, and maybe they could have as a precaution – but I don’t know if that’s the solution.
“There are a lot of factors at play, but if I had to put money on it – I’d say that Palace will continue into the Europa League.”
Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest in Bobb race
Meanwhile, Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace are reportedly among a number of clubs considering moves to sign Man City winger Oscar Bobb on loan.
That is according to former Man United and Blackburn chief scout Mick Brown, who remains very well-connected within the game.
The Norway international suffered a broken leg last August and featured just four times for City last season after spending over 200 days on the sidelines.
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