‘I know for a fact…’ – Stefan Borson explains Crystal Palace’s chances of overturning Uefa decision
Crystal Palace are going to face a challenge overturning Uefa’s decision after an appeal update has emerged following their Europa League expulsion.
Uefa removed Palace from the second-tier European competition after ruling former co-owner John Textor had breached its multi-club ownership rules.
The American billionaire owns a stake in Lyon, who also qualified for the Europa League, with Uefa’s rules prohibiting clubs controlled by the same owners or directors from competing in the same European competition.
However, Textor has now sold his shares to Woody Johnson and no longer has any involvement at Selhurst Park.
Finance expert Stefan Borson exclusively told Football Insider there is no provision within the rules for the change of ownership of Textor’s shares to have any impact.
Palace have appealed the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) following their removal from the Europa League.
A decision is expected to be made by the international body by 11 August.
Palace are currently set to play in the Conference League next season, while Nottingham Forest have been promoted into the Europa League.
Crystal Palace lawyers facing uphill battle
Borson insisted it’s now down to Palace’s lawyers to make the right arguments to earn the club’s Europa League place back.
He told Football Insider: “I think on the face of it, if you do have an Article 5 problem, which is the conflict and the sporting integrity clause that they’ve allegedly breached, according to CFCB, there’s no provision in those rules that say ‘Well, if the club is sold in the period between 1 March and the start of the tournament, then even if we’ve said that you’ve breached, it all falls away’.
“There is no provision for that, so on the face of it, it makes no difference. That said, it should make a difference when you’re presenting whether there is actually any risk to sporting integrity.
“Clearly now, I know for a fact regardless of what the CFCB has established for the period that it was checking and for the period to 1 March and all the other circumstances we know about even if they have decided that there was decisive influence, we know from right now there’s none.
“So, we know that going into the tournament next season nobody’s prejudiced if Crystal Palace are in the Europa League because there is no sporting influence. The question is how do Crystal Palace’s lawyers convey that within the rules?
“The rules do not seem to accommodate that as being the test. The test is not a test that’s made in July or 1 August. The test is what was the situation on 1 March. That is what the rules say.
“If the panel goes ‘Well, you know we are sympathetic with Crystal Palace’s case’, how within the rules would that work?
“The challenge is for Crystal Palace to make the right arguments and for CAS to agree with those arguments such that Crystal Palace are in the tournament despite the situation with the rules.
“I think they’re going to have a challenge unwinding the CFCB’s decision in respect of decisive influence because I don’t think that the CFCB would have come to that decision lightly.”
Liverpool have ‘concrete’ interest in Crystal Palace star
In terms of a potential exit at Selhurst Park, Football Insider revealed on 28 July Liverpool still have a “concrete” interest in signing Marc Guehi from Palace this summer.
The 25-year-old has entered the final year of his contract in south London and has informed the club he is not planning to sign an extension.
Sources say Liverpool are still working in the background to land a deal for the England international and are expected to make a fresh approach to Palace in the coming weeks.
For more Crystal Palace and exclusive news, follow us on Facebook or join our brand new WhatsApp Channel for instant updates to be sent straight to your phone.