Large disillusionment for Crystal Palace. Winner of the FA Cup, the London club thought of holding its ticket for the next Europa League. But UEFA has decided otherwise, due to an offense on multi -clulty property rules. In question: the links between Crystal Palace and Olympique Lyonnais, both in the orbit of Eagle Football, a group led until recently by John Textor.
The turning point was played on July 9, when the DNCG confirmed the maintenance of OL in Ligue 1. This green light allowed the Rhone club to keep its place in the Europa League, obtained thanks to its 6th place in the league. UEFA then reassessed the situation, concluding that it is a violation of article 5.01 of its regulation, which prohibits two clubs controlled by the same entity to compete in the same European competition.
Why Crystal Palace and not OL?
To decide between the two training courses, the European body applied a clear criterion: their national classification. Lyon, 6th in Ligue 1, was deemed priority compared to Palace, 12th of the Premier League. Result: the Gones remain in C3, while the Eagles are relegated to the Europa Conference League, less prestigious and less lucrative. Nottingham Forest, 7th in Premier League, could thus inherit the vacant place in the Europa League.
The decision caused the London club to be angry, which intends to appeal to the Arbitral Tribunal of Sport, according to the
Daily Mail. The heap can activate an accelerated procedure, which would allow Palace to try to reverse the verdict before the draw for European competitions.
Although he gave in the Lyon presidency to Michele Kang, Textor still has the French club. And the sale of the 45 % detained in the English club, announced at the end of June for 200 M €, intervened too late to meet the requirements of UEFA.
