Crystal Palace have been relegated from the Europa League to the third-tier UEFA Conference League due to a breach of multi club ownership rules, UEFA announced on Friday. In contrast, French side Olympique Lyonnais will remain in the Europa League.
The Eagle Football Group holds majority ownership of Lyon, while its chairman, John Textor, also controls a significant stake in Crystal Palace. Palace earned a Europa League spot by winning the FA Cup last season, while Lyon qualified by finishing sixth in Ligue 1.
UEFA’s Club Financial Control Body (CFCB) had delayed a ruling on the ownership conflict until French authorities reversed an earlier decision to demote Lyon to Ligue 2 over financial concerns. That reversal came on Wednesday.
“Consequently, the CFCB First Chamber pursued the assessment of the documentation submitted by Olympique Lyonnais and Crystal Palace and concluded that the clubs breached, as at 1 March 2025, the multi club ownership criteria,” UEFA said in a statement.
Since both clubs had qualified for the same European competition, UEFA allowed Lyon to retain its place in the Europa League based on their superior domestic league finish. Lyon ended sixth in Ligue 1, while Palace finished 12th in the Premier League.
Crystal Palace now have the option to appeal UEFA’s decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Last month, Palace revealed that New York Jets co-owner Robert “Woody” Johnson had signed a legally binding agreement to purchase Eagle Football Holding’s stake in the club, pending Premier League approval. However, the club failed to meet UEFA’s deadline in March to comply with the governing body’s ownership regulations.
According to UEFA rules, no club participating in its competitions may hold shares or securities in another competing club. Additionally, no individual may be involved in the management, administration, or sporting decisions of more than one participating club, nor exercise control or decisive influence over them.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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