By Liam McLaughlan
Crystal Palace’s place in the Europa League next season is under threat due to UEFA’s rules on multi-club ownership.
Thanks to their 1-0 victory over Manchester City in the FA Cup final in May, the Eagles secured a spot in the 2025-26 Europa League.
However, UEFA’s regulations around shared ownership between competing clubs have cast doubt on whether Oliver Glasner’s side will be allowed in next season’s tournament.
Under UEFA’s rules, no individual may “simultaneously be involved in any capacity” for “more than one club participating in a UEFA club competition”.
Palace co-owner John Textor, through his Eagle Football Holdings group, owns a majority share in French Ligue 1 side Lyon, who have also qualified for next season’s Europa League.
Compounding the matter, shareholder Dave Blitzer has a stake in Danish club Brøndby, who are set to play in the Conference League.
That would then prevent Palace from dropping into that competition in what would be a bitter blow to the club, who are aiming to compete in European competition for the first time since 1998.
Palace in negotiations with UEFA
Textor and Blitzer, alongside chairman Steve Parish and other Palace executives, recently flew out to Switzerland to negotiate a solution with UEFA.
Palace are arguing that Textor, who has publicly expressed his desire to sell his 45% stake in the club, does not have decisive control.
Both Textor and Blitzer are understood to have proposed placing their shares in a blind trust, but UEFA have so far rejected this proposal.
Clubs must notify UEFA of any ownership changes before March 1, and Palace have missed that deadline by several months.
It remains to be seen whether UEFA and Palace can reach an agreement and what that would involve.
With the draw for the Europa League taking place on June 17, a decision on Palace’s European fate is expected by the end of the month.
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Precedents in multi-club ownerships
Blind trusts have become an increasingly common tactic employed by football’s multi-club giants to get around UEFA’s strict regulations.
Last season, City Football Group placed their stake in Girona into a blind trust so that Manchester City and Girona could both compete in the Champions League.
Similarly, INEOS entered into a blind trust to allow both Manchester United and Nice to participate in the Europa League.
Earlier this season, Nottingham Forest and Olympiacos owner Evangelos Marinakis transferred his shares to a blind trust when Forest were on course to qualify for the Champions League.
If the Eagles are ultimately barred from the Europa League, Forest would then take their place, having qualified for the Conference League with a 7th-place Premier League finish.
That would result in Brighton taking Forest’s Conference League spot.
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Palace in talks with Mateta over new contract
Amid the ongoing uncertainty over their Europa League inclusion, Palace are currently in negotiations with striker Jean-Philippe Mateta over a new contract.
Mateta’s current deal expires in 2027, but the Eagles want to secure his future at the club and avoid him entering the final year of his deal.
The 27-year-old was a key player for Glasner in what was a strong finish to the season, scoring 17 goals in all competitions and leading the line in Palace’s FA Cup triumph.
It remains to be seen whether Palace’s inclusion in European competition will influence his decision.
The Frenchman has reportedly attracted attention from the likes of Aston Villa and Marseille, who could offer him a chance to play amongst Europe’s elite if Palace’s dispute with UEFA isn’t resolved.
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James Mario Ajero 
Newsjustnews writers 
Simon Wilkes