Crystal Palace Wins the FA Cup and Earns Europa League Spot
Crystal Palace made their fans proud by winning the 2025 FA Cup. This big win means they earned a spot in the UEFA Europa League for the 2025-26 season. Many fans were happy and excited to see their team play in a big European tournament. The Europa League is a famous football competition where strong teams from different countries in Europe play against each other.
Usually, when a club wins the FA Cup, they go straight into the Europa League. But for Crystal Palace, it’s not that simple. There is a big problem. UEFA has not yet allowed them to join. Now, everyone is waiting for a final decision.
UEFA Says “Wait” — Ownership Rules in the Way
UEFA is the group that runs major European football tournaments like the Champions League and the Europa League. UEFA has a rule that says:
“If two clubs are owned by the same person or company, they can’t play in the same European competition.”
This rule stops unfair games. If one owner controls two teams, they might try to cheat. That’s why UEFA says: no double ownership.
Here is where the problem begins. John Textor, an American businessman, owns part of Crystal Palace and also owns Lyon, a French club. He owns 44% of Palace and has a major role at Lyon, who also qualified for the Europa League. So UEFA has to decide which team can play — but not both.
Textor Says He Will Sell His Palace Shares
To help Crystal Palace stay in the Europa League, John Textor said he is ready to sell his shares in the English club. He knows that holding shares in two clubs in the same tournament is a big problem.
Textor has spoken publicly and said he does not want to block Palace from playing. This shows he is trying to solve the issue and is willing to step away to help the club.
Still, UEFA has not made a final decision. The reason for this delay is not just about Textor’s shares — it’s also about Lyon’s situation in France.
Lyon’s Big Financial Problems
Lyon, the French club also owned by John Textor, has been in financial trouble. They were relegated to Ligue 2 because of their large debts. In simple words, the club owes a lot of money, and French football officials say this is dangerous for the sport.
Lyon’s bosses didn’t agree with the decision. They have appealed to try to stay in Ligue 1, which is the top football league in France. This appeal is now being reviewed by French football authorities.
Because Lyon is also in the Europa League and is owned by the same man who owns Palace, UEFA wants to wait until the appeal is over before making a final choice.
What Will Happen If Lyon Loses the Appeal?
There is a possible solution. If Lyon loses the appeal and stays in Ligue 2, they will not play in the Europa League. In fact, reports say Lyon have agreed to withdraw from the tournament if they are not allowed to stay in Ligue 1.
This would fix the problem because then only one of Textor’s clubs — Crystal Palace — would be playing in Europe. In that case, UEFA may allow Palace to join the Europa League as planned.
But if Lyon wins the appeal and stays in Ligue 1, then both clubs might want to join the same tournament. UEFA would then have to choose which club can go and which one stays out. That decision is not easy.
Fans Are Waiting for UEFA’s Final Word
Crystal Palace fans are feeling nervous. They want to know if their club will play in Europe next season. The team worked very hard to win the FA Cup. Now they might miss out, not because of the players, but because of ownership rules.
UEFA said they will wait for Lyon’s appeal before announcing their final decision. This might take days or even weeks. So, Palace’s dream of playing in Europe is still hanging in the air.
Why This Matters for Football
This case is important because it shows how football ownership can affect clubs and fans. UEFA’s rules are made to keep games fair, but they can also create problems like this.
Crystal Palace did everything right on the field. But now, off the field, a decision by UEFA could stop them from enjoying the prize they earned. This is a lesson for all clubs and owners: when you invest in more than one team, you must be very careful.
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