Lyon-UEFA Deal Clouds Crystal Palace Europa League Eligibility

Crystal Palace's qualification for the 2025/26 Europa League after winning the FA Cup is under threat due to UEFA's multi-club ownership rules, as Eagle Football Holdings owns significant stakes in both Palace and Lyon. UEFA prohibits two clubs with the same owner from competing in the same European competition, and Lyon, who finished higher in Ligue 1, are currently favored to take the Europa League spot. Although Lyon were relegated from Ligue 1 due to severe financial irregularities confirmed by the DNCG, they have reached an agreement with UEFA's Club Financial Control Body to maintain Europa League participation, subject to appeal and strict financial conditions. Palace's owner, John Textor, has sold his stake to Woody Johnson in an effort to resolve the ownership conflict, but the timing of this sale may not satisfy UEFA's March 1 eligibility deadline, complicating Palace's eligibility. If Lyon's relegation is upheld and their UEFA agreement nullified, Palace could regain the Europa League spot, but Lyon’s financial issues and UEFA’s strict enforcement of multi-club ownership rules keep the situation uncertain. This case highlights the ongoing challenges UEFA faces in enforcing integrity rules amid complex club ownership structures.