logo
John Textor reveals X-rated reaction to Crystal Palace's FA Cup win and admits he immediately feared for their Europa League place - with the Eagles now set to be thrown out of the competition

John Textor reveals X-rated reaction to Crystal Palace's FA Cup win and admits he immediately feared for their Europa League place - with the Eagles now set to be thrown out of the competition

Daily Mail​10-07-2025
John Textor admitted he was worried about whether Crystal Palace would be able to play in the Europa League from the moment they won last season's FA Cup.
Textor's continued involvement at Lyon and Palace as of March 1 this year looks set to cost the Eagles a place in Europe's second-tier competition under UEFA's rules governing multi-club ownership.
The American, who has agreed to sell his stake in the London club to New York Jets owner Woody Johnson, told talkSPORT he immediately realised the issues Palace might face.
'I couldn't have been happier for the fans, but I was worried about what was coming there,' he said.
Asked what he was thinking as Palace beat Manchester City at Wembley, Textor said: 'Oh s***, is what I thought.
'I was very happy, but I felt the gravity of it. And I was concerned on the same day holding the cup next to the Prince (William).'
Palace's prospects of playing in the Europa League appeared to recede on Wednesday when Lyon won an appeal against their relegation to the French second division due to financial issues.
Lyon had agreed a settlement with UEFA to be barred from European competition if the appeal was dismissed but are now set to play in Europe next season.
Under multi-club ownership rules, clubs wishing to be eligible for qualification in 2025-26 had to be able to demonstrate that, as of March 1, no individual or legal entity had control or influence over more than one club participating in the same competition.
Where two or more clubs fail to meet the criteria, only one can be entered. Lyon's higher league position would give them priority over Palace.
Sources close to UEFA on June 30 indicated no multi-club ownership issue had been identified with regard to Palace shareholder David Blitzer's involvement with Danish side Brondby, who have qualified for the Conference League, which means the London club should face no barrier to entering UEFA's third-tier club competition.
UEFA's club financial control body is set to make a final ruling on the Palace-Lyon case later this week or early next week at the latest.
A statement by a group of Members of Parliament, whose constituencies are local to Crystal Palace, on Thursday called on UEFA to 'bring European football to south London.'
It read: 'Crystal Palace's FA Cup win in May was a historic achievement. Supporters right across south London celebrated the first trophy in the club's 164-year history.
'As 2025's FA Cup victors, Crystal Palace FC qualify for the Europa League. To deny the club, the fans, and our local communities this opportunity goes against the value of fair play - a value central to the beautiful game.
'We are calling on UEFA to ensure Crystal Palace FC are included in the Europa League competition and European football is brought to south London.'
The statement was posted to the official X accounts of three of its four signatories, Sarah Jones, MP for Croydon West, Steve Reed, the MP for Streatham and Croydon North and Croydon East MP Natasha Irons.
Beckenham & Penge MP Liam Conlon also signed the statement.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Ruben Amroim warns Chelsea over Alejandro Garnacho transfer
Ruben Amroim warns Chelsea over Alejandro Garnacho transfer

Metro

time19 minutes ago

  • Metro

Ruben Amroim warns Chelsea over Alejandro Garnacho transfer

Ruben Amroim has told Alejandro Garnacho that he will remain at Old Trafford if Chelsea do not meet Manchester United's asking price this summer. Amorim made it clear to Garnacho that he has no future at United after he was left out of the squad for their final Premier League game last season and benched for the Europa League final against Spurs in May. Garnacho hit out at Amorim after he was dropped for the Europa League final defeat to Spurs in Bilbao and indicated that his future at United is in doubt. The Argentina international had attracted interest from both Chelsea and Napoli in the January transfer window but were unwilling to meet United's £70 million asking price. Chelsea have retained their interest this summer and reports this week have claimed that United have now dropped Garnacho's valuation to £40m. Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro's Football Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link so we can send you football news tailored to you. Garnacho, who is keen to remain in the Premier League and join a Champions League club, has been omitted from United's pre-season tour squad this month. However, Amorim is adamant that Garnacho will be reintegrated back into United's first team if he fails to secure a move away before the end of the summer transfer window. Asked if United are concerned by the possibility of reducing the value of their unwanted players such as Garnacho, Jadon Sancho and Antony by leaving them out of their pre-season tour of the United States, Amorim said on Friday: 'I think that is not the case. 'There are different reasons for the players. Some players have to find a new place to have more space in the team, other players clearly show that they want a new challenge and they want new teams. 'So we are just allowing these players time to think and to decide. 'If they reach a point where they have to join the team they will join the team because they are our players. More Trending 'I know for a fact Omar [Berrada] and Jason [Wilcox] and the club have a number for these players. If they don't reach that they will be Manchester United players, no doubts about that. 'I understand the club are maybe waiting for the last minute but they can have a surprise and I am ready, I am ready to receive the players. 'They have more competition, if they want to play in the World Cup they need to play so I'm really happy with that because I will have more options. 'If they have to fight each other to play for me that is perfect.' For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. MORE: Cole Palmer tipped for sensational transfer to Man Utd from Chelsea by former coach MORE: Chelsea agree deal for Crystal Palace star after beating eight clubs in transfer race MORE: Bayern Munich make approach sign Man Utd star as Luis Diaz alternative

The pub and bar chain thriving thanks to warm weather
The pub and bar chain thriving thanks to warm weather

The Independent

time19 minutes ago

  • The Independent

The pub and bar chain thriving thanks to warm weather

Mitchells & Butlers, the pub and bar group, reported a significant boost in customer numbers and strong performance. The owner of Toby Carvery and All Bar One saw like-for-like sales increase by 5 per cent in the quarter ending 19 July. This growth was partly attributed to recent sunny weather and Easter, with both food and drink sales climbing by nearly 5 per cent. Despite facing cost inflation challenges, the company anticipates its annual results will reach the "top end" of industry forecasts. M&B has converted or remodelled 150 venues and opened two new sites this year, though its shares experienced a slight dip in early trading.

Ella Toone says Lionesses ‘nearly killed' Sarina Wiegman with late Euro 2025 heroics
Ella Toone says Lionesses ‘nearly killed' Sarina Wiegman with late Euro 2025 heroics

The Independent

time19 minutes ago

  • The Independent

Ella Toone says Lionesses ‘nearly killed' Sarina Wiegman with late Euro 2025 heroics

Midfielder Ella Toone joked England Women 'nearly killed' Sarina Wiegman en route to the Euro 2025 final. In reaching the final, against Spain, Wiegman reached an unprecedented fifth straight major tournament final. No head coach in the men's or women's game has ever achieved that feat before the 55-year-old Dutchwoman. She could now secure a hat-trick of European championship trophies after winning with the Netherlands in 2017, then England in 2022. The Lionesses ' title defence thus far could hardly be described as smooth, requiring two consecutive stunning comebacks in the knockouts, but they have somehow still found themselves a win against the World Cup holders away from the second major trophy in their history. 'I think we've nearly killed her twice this tournament,' said Toone. 'She's said we've definitely aged her, but five consecutive tournaments for Sarina being in the final and that's just unbelievable. 'We know we're in good hands, we know she's a manager who can take teams right to the final, and she's done a few good speeches to be fair, this camp, I'll give it to her. 'She's a great manager, she's someone who we all have a lot of belief in, and we know we're in good hands. 'We know when we go out onto the pitch we fight for each other, but we fight for her and the staff too, and all the fans watching as well, but I mean, unbelievable achievement for Sarina and for the team, too.' Right-back Lucy Bronze, the oldest member of Wiegman's squad at 33, is also poised to make history on Sunday – which would be her 36th major-tournament appearance – to surpass Jill Scott on England's all-time list. 'She's a legend. She's an absolute beast,' said Toone. 'She just played back-to-back 120 minutes. That shows something, and that's something that us younger players and people in the team can really look up to.' Spain beat England 1-0 to secure the World Cup trophy two summers ago and might be the favourites, but Toone is certain the Lionesses have all the tools to claim their first trophy away from home. She added: 'We've spoken about it quite a lot this camp, a proper English performance. I think we have it in us all, individually and as a team, that we want to fight. 'We want to not stop running. You've seen that in games where sometimes you might feel like we're down and out, and it's 90-odd minutes, and then someone comes on and we have one moment, and we take that moment, and that's what it's all about. 'It's the squad depth, it's players having that belief that they can come on and really change the game, but I think it's all in us individually that we're competitive and we want to win, and we know what it takes to win tournaments. 'That's what we managed to do, and that's what's got us to a third consecutive final.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store