‘Crystal Palace face Europa League devastation as John Textor issue emerges’
Crystal Palace are facing yet more uncertainty following a new twist surrounding co-owner John Textor’s shares at Selhurst Park.
The American billionaire owns a 45 per cent stake in the Premier League side through his company Eagle Football Holdings.
The 59-year-old also owns majority stakes in French club Lyon, Brazilian first division outfit Botafogo and Belgian side RWD Molenbeek.
Textor initially moved to sell his shares in Palace as he looked to secure a takeover of Everton last year, with the Premier League‘s rules prohibiting individuals from owning more than one club.
He eventually missed out on a deal to buy the Merseysiders after fellow American Dan Friedkin agreed a takeover with Farhad Moshiri at Goodison Park.
It has now emerged Textor is attempting an audacious takeover of Palace after holding talks with fellow co-owners David Blitzer and Josh Harris about purchasing their shares.
However, finance expert Stefan Borson told Football Insider Textor doesn’t have the money to buy Palace.
His compatriots Blitzer and Harris are each believed to own an 18 per cent share in the south London club, while chairman Steve Parish has seen his stake reduced to under 10 per cent in recent years.
Crystal Palace face Nottingham Forest issue
The takeover uncertainty hasn’t impacted matters on the pitch after Palace beat Manchester City in the FA Cup final last weekend.
Their Wembley success ensures Oliver Glasner’s side will play in the Europa League next season.
However, Textor’s ownership of Lyon has presented a potential issue as they will also qualify for the competition if PSG beat Reims in the French Cup final on Saturday (24 May).
Uefa’s rules prohibit clubs from being controlled by the same owners or directors from competing in the same European competition.
Evangelos Marinakis has faced a similar issue as Nottingham Forest and Olympiacos have both qualified for European football this season.
It has been revealed Marinakis has ceased control of Forest to ensure neither club is punished for their ownership situation.
| Club | Stake (%) |
| Crystal Palace (England) | 45 |
| Botafogo (Brazil) | 90 |
| Olympique Lyonnais (France) | 77.49 |
| RWD Molenbeek (Belgium) | 80 |
Crystal Palace could face European heartbreak
The Guardian reported on 21 May Palace are confident they will be cleared to play in the Europa League even if Lyon also qualify for the competition.
The newspaper said Uefa is believed to be preparing to look into the case, with a decision expected to be made in early June.
Under the governing body’s rules, Palace would miss out due to their lower placing in their domestic league.
Glasner’s side currently sit 12th in the Premier League table and can only finish as high as ninth, while Lyon ended the campaign in sixth place.
It would be a devastating blow if Palace were to miss out on a Europa League spot following their incredible achievement in the FA Cup.
However, you would expect Textor was prepared for this situation and will be able to resolve it if both sides qualify for the competition.
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