Crystal Palace could miss out on European football as UEFA sticks rigidly to their regulations which could cost the Eagles – who have tried to navigate the multi-club ownership rules
Crystal Palace face the prospect of missing out on Europe after UEFA rejected a solution from their owners as they continue to fight the multi-club ownership rules which could cost them next season.
The FA Cup winners have earned passage into the Europa League, but concerns over their ownership could see them miss out a maiden season on the continent. Eagles shareholders John Textor and David Blitzer want to put their shares in a blind trust to ensure the club can compete in Europe next season – but UEFA claim their move is too late.
Textor is also the majority owner of Lyon, who have qualified for the Europa League along with Palace. Another blow has come in the form of Blitzer’s Danish club Brondby qualifying for the Conference League – meaning there is no scope for Palace to drop down into that tournament instead.
Palace executives, including Textor and the chairman, Steve Parish, met UEFA officials in Nyon on Tuesday to try to find a solution – but failed to find an agreement, reports The Guardian. Europe’s governing body insists they cannot show any leniency with their rules being honoured.
The plan to put Textor’s shares into a blind trust cannot be considered as he has missed the deadline to do so. UEFA rules state that such ownership changes must take place before 1 March to take effect in time for the following season.
READ MORE: Crystal Palace chief willing to sell stake in club after UEFA talks to avoid European banREAD MORE: Oliver Glasner casts doubt on Crystal Palace future by delaying contract decision
Manchester City and Manchester United both used blind trusts to remain compliant with UEFA’s multi-club rules last season. Their partner clubs, Girona and Nice, also qualified for the Champions League and Europa League respectively.
It was also an issue for Nottingham Forest owner, Evangelos Marinakis, who has transferred his shares given his Greek club Olympiacos have qualified for next season’s Champions League.
Palace’s failure to foresee the potential issue now looks set to cost them dear. Back on March 1 when the changes needed to be made the Eagles were sitting in mid-table and hadn’t even made the fifth round of the FA Cup – meaning Europe wasn’t on their radar.
Even then they were not seen as among the favourites for the FA Cup before downing Aston Villa in the semi-finals and then shocking Manchester City in the final with Eberechi Eze scoring the winner. Landing European football was a major coup, but it could be over before it starts.
Manager Oliver Glasner said after their Wembley success: “We said before the game that we wanted to write our own history and we have written a big chapter in our history, and next year we will do that again when we play in Europe.»
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