Podcast link here
(please watch the podcast for context in understanding why this issue has arisen in the first place!)
UEFA HAVE BANISHED CRYSTAL PALACE FROM THE EUROPA LEAGUE, due to breaching UEFA’s multi club ownership criteria, as discussed in the above podcast.
They will now enter into the Conference League, a less lucrative tournament, but will appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The decision comes with its critics. In domestic cup competitions that allow entry into Europe for winning them, it would become much more difficult for clubs to meet the March 1st deadline imposed by UEFA to register a blind trust or to prove that no 1 person has a decisive influence over 2 clubs. Because, quite frankly, how were Palace to know they were going to win the FA Cup?
Not only that, but very interestingly, it has been reported that they did not even know there was a March 1st deadline: Parish has intimated that he has never been contacted by UEFA, and that the specific email related to the rule change was sent to a Crystal Palace general enquiries email.
Steve Parish is furious, who has even quipped that he doesn’t even have anyone’s phone number at Lyon. As detailed on the podcast, John Textor does not have a decisive or controlling influence over Palace! Steve Parish is the chairman and the one that runs the club, with it being reported that often Parish and Textor have not often agreed on their views. Textor has even said that Parish is stubborn and won’t listen to him!
Palace argued with UEFA that each partner had equal voting rights, and showcased evidence that usually John Textor was outvoted. They used evidence that as Textor was so willing to sell his Palace shares, this would indicate how frustrated he was at the lack of influence he had. Moreover, he was barely present at Selhurst Park.
Palace clearly thought that their arguments held weight and felt imbued further when Lyon were relegated from Ligue 1; the conditions of UEFA’s licence with them meant that if they were relegated again (after their provisional relegation in November), they would not be allowed to participate in any UEFA competition. Sadly, for Palace, Lyon were successful in their appeal.
I think we can all agree, that this decision is wrong, unjust, and I truly hope that Palace can win their appeal.