Exclusive: Crystal Palace to appeal UEFA ruling ‘irrespective of the costs’
Crystal Palace will appeal if UEFA bars their entry to European competition no matter the cost of legal proceedings.
That is the view of football finance expert Dan Plumley, who told Football Insider that the Eagles will feel “hard done by” if they are not allowed to compete in the Europa League next season.
The issue stems from John Textor’s majority shareholding in both the Premier League club and Lyon, as UEFA rules state two teams cannot compete in the same competition if they are owned by the same person or group.
Clubs like Man United, whose co-owner Jim Ratcliffe also owns Nice, and Red Bulls’ clubs Leipzig and Salzburg have been able to avoid the same sanctions by placing control of one of their clubs in a blind trust, something Textor failed to do before UEFA’s deadline in March.
Despite selling his shares in Palace to Woody Johnson and stepping back from control of the French side, the Eagles still look likely to be barred from playing continental football next season after the Ligue 1 side successfully appealed their relegation to Ligue 2 due to financial issues.
Crystal Palace will challenge UEFA
Speaking to Football Insider, finance expert Plumley explained that if Palace are kicked out of Europe.
Should the Eagles be barred, Nottingham Forest would be primed to take their place in the Europa League after finishing seventh in the Premier League and qualifying for the Conference League.
Previously, the senior lecturer from Sheffield Hallam University told Football Insider that an if the Nottingham-based club missed out on a European upgrade and wanted to challenge the ruling, an appeal from the Tricky Trees would be based on Evangelos Marinakis’ “appetite” for lengthy and expensive court proceedings.
But in Palace’s case, Plumley thinks that if they are barred, a challenge would be forthcoming from the London-based side, no matter the costs.
He said: “Yeah, I think it’s probably a little bit different for Palace, because of the way it’s happened and they’ll feel hard done by.
“I know the regulations are there and of course, we go back to that deadline that was missed and they probably still could have done that just in case, but they didn’t because they weren’t expecting to win the FA Cup.
“But yeah, I think with Palace, you will definitely see a challenge irrespective of the costs attached to it.
“They will be appealing if it doesn’t go their way and they don’t get that Europa League place.”
John Textor involved in appointing Oliver Glasner
Much of Palace’s appeal to UEFA has been based on Textor having little to no involvement in the day-to-day running of the club, despite being the majority shareholder.
Steve Parish is the club’s chairman and despite having a significantly smaller shareholding in the club, he is seen as the man who makes all the footballing calls.
However, Keith Wyness told Football Insider that Textor was influential in Oliver Glasner’s appointment at Palace.
That would mean that the American businessman had a much stronger involvement than has been suggested, and may be a factor in UEFA’s final decision.