Keith Wyness

Wed 28 May 2025 21:00, UK

Crystal Palace were in dreamland earlier this month after winning the FA Cup and qualifying for the Europa League – but a potential problem has emerged.

Uefa’s rules prohibit clubs from being controlled by the same owners or directors from competing in the same European competition.

John Textor holds a stake in both Crystal Palace and Lyon – despite his best attempts to move on from Selhurst Park by selling his shares in the club.

The Ligue 1 club also qualified for the Europa League after PSG beat Reims in the French Cup final on Saturday (24 May).

American billionaire Textor, who holds a 45 per cent share at Palace., also owns majority stakes in Brazilian first division outfit Botafogo and Belgian side RWD Molenbeek alongside Lyon. 

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 potential conundrum.

Crystal Palace will convince Uefa, says Wyness

Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Wyness insisted Palace will likely be able to convince Uefa that Textor doesn’t have “direct say on the running of the club”.

The FA Cup win represented Palace’s first-ever major trophy victory in their 119-year history.

Wyness insisted there are still “question marks” over whether Lyon will even be allowed to compete in Europe next season due to financial concerns at the club.

He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “I don’t think this is going to give Palace a problem.

“I think the shareholder agreement at Palace will exclude Textor from having a direct say on the running of the team.

“Parish has that capability.

“Once they explain and show Uefa that Textor will not have direct control, I think they’ll be allowed in.

“In Lyon, there are all sorts of issues still going on.

“I believe they’ve been added to a transfer ban list. I don’t know whether they will be allowed to compete in Europe – there are still question marks over that.

“I think Eagle Football, if they are still around at Palace and haven’t sold up, will be ok in terms of the dual ownership issue.”

Glasner contract update from Crystal Palace

Meanwhile, Football Insider has revealed (20 May) that Crystal Palace and Glasner will hold talks in the coming weeks to nail down a contract renewal.

He has just over one year to run on his Crystal Palace contract and was linked with Tottenham and RB Leipzig prior to his FA Cup success.

Sources say the Austrian, 50, “would love” to lead them out in the Europa League next term.

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