Crystal Palace set to learn European fate from UEFA bosses by June 30 - but legal wrangling could drag out saga
Crystal Palace are set to learn their European fate at the end of the month – but legal challenges could drag the saga out even further.
UEFA bosses hope to inform the Eagles whether they will be thrown out of the Europa League under rules on multi-club ownership by June 30.
However, there is a strong likelihood that either Palace themselves - or other sides impacted by the verdict – will then take the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Should Palace, who won the FA Cup, fail to convince bosses that majority owner John Textor, who also holds a controlling stake in fellow Europa League participants Lyon, does not have influence at Selhurst Park and subsequently be denied their place they are expected to appeal to the Swiss-based adjudicators.
However, should palace be permitted into the competition, the likes of Nottingham Forest – who would miss out on a promotion to the Europa League from the Conference League – and rivals Brighton, who would have entered the Conference League, may well do likewise.
To further complicate matters Danish side Brondby, owned by Palace minority shareholder David Blitzer, may also be stirred into action should they end up losing their spot in the Conference League.
Crystal Palace met with UEFA to argue their case for competing in the Europa League
UEFA ownership rules may mean Palace cannot compete. US businessman Textor is majority shareholder at Lyon while Brondby are owned by Palace co-owner David Blitzer
Last week, Mail Sport revealed that Palace execs were to jet to UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, to plead their case.
After a two-hour, high-stakes summit ended, Textor told Mail Sport that he wanted to sell his stake to assist in ending the issue.
He also denied having any decision making powers at the club. While Textor owns a stake of around 43 per cent and is the major shareholder he only has 25 per cent of voting rights at the club, a situation which has been a key source of frustration.
Palace execs attempted to outline the structure of the club and emphasise Textor's lack of influence.
Should they have been able to satisfy UEFA that the American is not a person of influence, despite holding the largest number of shares, they are expected to be given the green light.
Any decision, however, is then expected to trigger an appeal to CAS, which is likely to be expedited.
The draw for the first qualifying rounds, which involve Brondby, start on June 17 while the draw for the league phase, when Palace are due to enter the competition, is on 29 August. Clubs can be replaced in those fixtures, should the need arise.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
30 minutes ago
- BBC News
Homeowners warned over green energy scammers
Homeowners need stronger protections against rogue traders and scammers capitalising on green energy schemes, according to Scotland's consumer Scotland warned that more people were likely to be targeted as the country transitions to low or zero-emissions heating over the next two has called on both Scottish and UK governments to ensure stronger regulation of the industry including accreditation for traders and a streamlined complaints a new report the consumer body highlighted scams involving spray foam insulation have already increased by 42% in 2023. Craig McClue, head of investigations for Consumer Scotland, said: "When we looked at this sector, in particular, we realised that Scotland has climate change targets to be net zero by 2045 and that is going to drive demand for low carbon heating technologies and insulation products."We found that, historically, there have been a lot of scams and unfair trading, and we heard evidence from our enforcement partners about just how prevalent these problems are."When you realise more than two million households are soon going to enter this sector, the risk is very real that consumers can face scams and unfair trading."He added: "We've heard strong evidence about particular egregious traders who have been targeting vulnerable consumers in Scotland."They suggest a loft surveys and suggest they make immediate decisions to get insulation, which proves unsuitable for the home, creates damp, and leads to mould."We then hear these same traders return under a new guise to take the spray foam insulation out. It is almost like a life-cycle scam."The Consumer Scotland report recommendations include better resources for enforcement bodies to tackle rogue trading and mandatory accreditation for all traders in the sector to increase consumer Ghibaldan, chief executive of Consumer Scotland, added: "The transition to net zero is one of the defining challenges of modern times."For many households, this currently means navigating a complex and unfamiliar sector often at significant cost. This journey must be made simpler, safer, and fairer."Our recommendations will help ensure consumers are empowered, protected, and supported through every stage of the transition, from initial decisions to installation protections and action to resolve complaints." 'Unfair trading practices' Fiona Richardson of Trading Standards Scotland added: "Scams, mis-selling and rogue trading continues to damage trust in the green home heating market."If consumers are to play their part in the transition to net zero, they must be protected from unfair trading practices and given the necessary confidence to engage in the sector."A UK government spokesperson said: "Allegations of fraud are taken very seriously and for UK wide schemes there is a dedicated Ofgem team working on counter fraud and whistleblowing."A Scottish government spokesperson said it welcomed the report "which highlights the need for a change to clean heating as part of Scotland's commitment to achieving net zero".They added: "It is vital people feel assured that any work carried out to decarbonise their heating is done to a high standard and represents good value for money."That's why we have been working with the UK government and Ofgem on the introduction of new consumer standards for heat network consumers – such as fair pricing and reliable supply – which will be introduced in January 2026." 'I've been a sucker... I should've known better' "I committed the cardinal sin," said David Adams, 87, a widower who lives alone in Glasgow."Someone chapped my door and I let them in."In late 2023, a representative of a company called Smarter Insulation Ltd appeared at his front door asking to talk to him about spray foam explained: "There was quite a lot going on about government grants for people. It seemed to be the thing to do, we were all getting very conscious of emissions, insulation and all the rest of it."The chap went up into the loft and took a test. He said there was damp in the air and this spray foam insulation would help."They had a good looking brochure and it all looked legit."He paid around £5,300 for the work, but a fortnight later he received a phone call from a company called the Roofing Advisory Service (RAS).In documents seen by BBC Scotland News, it warned him of "mis-selling of spray foam insulation by certain companies" and that his home was at risk from damp in the roof space and "potential issues with mortgageability and insurability in the future".In the end, he paid a further £2,750 to have insulation removed by a third company just a month was only after he paid that Mr Adams contacted Trading Standards and Advice Direct Scotland, but he remains £8,000 out of added: "You just think, 'I've been a sucker'… That's why I haven't taken any steps to get my money back."I should've known better." BBC Scotland News spoke with another spray foam customer who paid more than £5,000 to FastFoam Limited, which has the same director as Smarter later paid another firm to remove the spray foam product several weeks later at a total cost of more than £8, is an active proposal to strike off both FastFoam Limited and Smarter Insulation from the companies contacted by BBC Scotland News, a spokesman for Smarter Insulation and Fastfoam blamed RAS as being rogue sellers. He said: "Both customers mentioned have been contacted by a fraudulent company that emerged after members of our sales team departed to work with RAS."We have provided the details of numerous individuals and customers who have been contacted by RAS to Trading Standards' investigative team."Smarter and FastFoam have now ceased trading."I deeply regret that customers have had to endure such a poor experience while purchasing insulation."The BBC has been unable to reach RAS for Standards Scotland confirmed that RAS, both Smarter Insulation and FastFoam, and the company that removed Mr Adams' insulation are all currently being investigated.
BBC News
30 minutes ago
- BBC News
'Opposite of Postecoglou' - what could Spurs expect from 'chef' Frank?
"I probably won't be at Brentford forever," Thomas Frank told BBC Sport in January when asked about his ambitions. "I will maybe walk into another club."That club could be Tottenham Hotspur, who finished 17th in the Premier League table - seven places below Brentford - but will play in the Champions League next season after winning the Europa have closed the door on the Ange Postecoglou era and are bidding to replace him with the Dane who established Brentford in the Premier League after winning promotion from the Championship in 51, is the second-longest-serving current manager in English football's top-flight behind Manchester City's Pep Guardiola."It is just a question of time," said six-time Premier League-winning boss Guardiola last September, when asked if he was surprised Frank, appointed by Brentford in 2018, had not been offered a bigger did not play football professionally, external but has overseen 152 Premier League games - winning 54, losing 60 and taking 200 points from a possible 456. Of the 54 managers to take charge of 150-plus games in the Premier League era, Frank ranks 29th for points per game (1.32).During his Brentford reign, Frank has spent £254m on players and received £183m in sales - a net spend of £71m. Tottenham have spent £961m on transfers since 2016-17, according to data., externalFrank, who has been described as the opposite of Postecoglou for his adaptability, would be Tottenham's fourth permanent manager since 30 June Espirito Santo lasted just four months, Antonio Conte 16 months and Postecoglou, despite ending the club's 17-year wait for a major trophy, has been sent packing after two years."There's much more pressure at Tottenham than there is at Brentford, because of the expectation - and the manager has to handle that expectation," Chris Sutton, a Premier League winner with Blackburn Rovers in 1994-95, told BBC Sport. 'Heat on Frank straight away' Frank's boundless energy and motivational skills have got the very best out of Brentford, who are planning for a fifth consecutive season in the Premier League despite one of the smallest has built a reputation for producing teams full of strong characters with no egos, and has helped the likes of Ivan Toney, Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa become better players - as well as many described as a 'great human', Frank built strong relationships and socialised with his players and staff - including his love of padel - and has been praised regularly for his motivational midfielder Christian Norgaard told BBC Radio 5 Live: "Thomas is very personal with the players."He cares a lot about how we are and how we feel. It's a very important quality for a manager to have."Not every manager has it, and the ones that do seem to have more success. He's definitely a leader and someone who guides us. He's done a fantastic job in the years that I've worked with him at Brentford."Managing Brentford though feels a very different proposition to managing overseeing a club with consistently one of the lowest budgets in the division - thus players on smaller salaries - to a club full of high-paid, high-profile described Tottenham's decision to part ways with Postecoglou as "madness", and added: "That is how things work at the club that Frank is walking into."He also also believes Spurs are taking a gamble on a manager who has no experience in the Champions League."Thomas Frank has done a brilliant job at Brentford, but this is a whole different kettle of fish," said Sutton."Because of the expectation at Tottenham, Frank won't get time to get his feet under the table. He will be under pressure from the off."Postecoglou has just won them their first major European trophy for 41 years and has gone. So already you have to wonder what does Frank need to do this season to keep his job?"The aim for Frank will be to keep them in the Champions League, and whether that is by making the top four or five, that is not going to be easy."That is a big ask for this squad, to compete on both fronts. We know this Tottenham team is better than 17th place, because they finished fifth in Postecoglou's first year, but other Premier League teams have improved since then." 'Frank is the opposite of Postecoglou' Brentford finished 2024-25 with more points than Tottenham (56 compared with 38), more goals (66-64) and fewer goals conceded (57-65). In addition, Mbeumo (20), Wissa (19) and Kevin Schade (11) scored 50 goals between them after Frank was forced to adapt following the departure of Toney - 36 goals in 83 top-flight appearances for the Bees - to Saudi Pro League club Al-Ahli. There have been many different versions of Brentford though since Frank first took charge. High-possession football, more counter-attacks, more percentage football - Frank has played them all, leading to many seeing him as one of the game's more adaptive attacking flair and bravery, to at times being more pragmatic, what will Spurs look like under Frank?"It's a surprisingly difficult question to answer because he's a really flexible manager," said football tactics writer Alex Keble."He will automatically adapt his tactics to whoever the opposition is, a bit like Unai Emery at Aston Villa."In many ways he's the opposite of Ange Postecoglou, who is famously wedded to one idea."There's a statistic - what Opta call 10+ - referring to the number of passes and sequences [in one move]. In 2023-24 Brentford registered 245. In 2024-25 that figure was 325. "That tells you as time has gone on, Frank has wanted to play a more possession-based game. There's certainly plenty of counter-attacks, fast transitions and plenty of highly choreographed long balls forward - direct football."Who are the Tottenham players who could benefit from the arrival of Frank, a manager who pays great attention to stats?"You can certainly imagine Dominic Solanke linking with Wilson Odobert in a way Wissa and Mbeumo interact," added Keble. "Defensively, Tottenham are least like Brentford. Would Frank look at the Spurs squad and think 'I can't play Brentford football here?'"Spurs fans struggled to buy into the brand of football under recent managers Jose Mourinho and Conte. Will they take to the Frank style?"I think the way he played at Brentford was quite balanced - they had different ways of playing, depending on the opposition," added Sutton."His Brentford team played good football at a high intensity, but ultimately fans take to managers when they win games, and that is it."I do think he has got different strings to his bow, but it will be interesting to see what Tottenham do recruitment-wise this summer."Former Tottenham midfielder Danny Murphy is another to praise Frank's flexible approach."They had a great intensity and physicality about them," Murphy told BBC Sport about Brentford last season. "They vary their game as well as any other team in the Premier League." 'Collaborative' and 'curious' - what is it like to play for Frank? Frank, praised for his methodical detail, has likened managing in the Premier League to being a head chef in a high-end restaurant."The chef needs to be able to cook the food himself," said Frank."He's got 20 other chefs doing all these things for him so he's leading all these many chefs through his vision, his recipes and they are maximising every little detail. "But he knows how the perfect outcome should be."His profile has rocketed since he arrived in England in 2016, being appointed Brentford's assistant head coach, external under Dean not playing professionally he has ended up in the Premier League after starting his coaching journey with the under-8s of his hometown club Frederiksvaerk. He progressed to become coach of Denmark at various youth levels until 2013, when he was offered a first-team coaching role at Danish Superliga giants striker Lee Rochester Sorensen, who was part of the Denmark Under-17s side, said: "He was always looking to improve and had a plan for every step of the way."Thomas always had a plan A, B and C, making it clear what was needed through the four phases of play, from our goalkeeper to our attackers - he'd tell us how to press our opponents and the reasons why."Ex-Brondby midfielder Martin Ornskov enjoyed Frank's collaborative approach during their time together at the club."There were times when he'd discuss solutions with us during games," he said. "Far from seeing it as a weakness, I saw that as a strength."I knew he'd be liked as a person and could evolve as a coach, but to work in the Premier League without having the experience or being a big name was a huge test."But the thing about Thomas was he was always so curious about football - he lived for the game. I saw a different coach at the end of my three years with him."After Frank Lampard left his role as Chelsea boss in 2023, Frank invited the former England midfielder to watch Brentford train."When you see someone like Thomas and how diligent he is and how well he speaks, you understand he has put thousands of hours into viewing, observing, working out his way, his approach to people," Lampard, now boss at Coventry City, told the Football Daily Radio London commentator Phil Parry added: "Thomas Frank as a manager is exceptionally gifted, as a person he's great - he's an exceptional coach and leader."He also accepts he is the head of something that is very important. He stands on the shoulders of other giants who make that thing tick."Chris Sutton was speaking to BBC Sport's Chris Bevan.
Metro
32 minutes ago
- Metro
Craig Bellamy reacts passionately to heart-breaking Wales defeat to Belgium
Craig Bellamy was full of pride in his Wales team despite a painful 4-3 defeat to Belgium in a dramatic World Cup qualifier on Monday night. The amazing game saw the home team race into a 3-0 lead thanks to goals from Romelu Lukaku, Youri Tielemans and Jeremy Doku before the half-hour mark. There was a scrap of hope for Wales when Harry Wilson scored a penalty just before the break and the visitors were sensationally level by 69 minutes thanks to goals from Sorba Thomas and Brennan Johnson. It looked set to be a famous draw for the Welsh but an 88th minute Kevin De Bruyne winner broke their hearts and ultimately left them unrewarded for their efforts. Bellamy was only looking at the positives, though, and was thrilled with the fight his players showed after a nightmare start. 'Since September when I first came in, I've felt immensely proud to be their coach,' he told the BBC. 'Every training session, every game they've left me with that. 'To come here, I hope second half they've seen what they can do. They have to understand how good they are. That was pleasing. I hope this gives us the belief to be the team we want to be. We move on from here.' He added: 'To come to a top eight team in the world and play that well, that's going to give us so much. 'I don't like the defeats and I don't feel like 'unlucky Wales.' No, we need to win these games. But after being 3-0 down when we could have gone the other way, for them to believe in themselves, I believe that will give us so much going forward.' Fulham's Wilson took a similar stance and knows there is plenty more football to play in Group J after picking up seven points from the first four matches. 'It's a tough one to take,' he said. 'We didn't start great giving them a three-goal lead, but we have to take positives from the way we reacted. 'We felt we were always in the game and once we got the goal before half-time we just kept believing and kept being patient. 'We showed we can go toe-to-toe with a top-10 team and we're just gutted at the end. 'It shows what we're about, we've pulled it back before. We'd rather not give a team like Belgium a three-goal lead, but we scored three goals and we probably should be leaving with something. 'The group is far from done and if we perform like the second half we will still have a big say in this group, and if we win every game it's still in our hands.' Wales are second in Group J, one point behind North Macedonia with Belgium in third place but having only played two matches while the two teams ahead of them have played four. MORE: Retired Chelsea icon favourite for major international job ahead of World Cup MORE: England v Senegal odds: Three Lions must respond to Thomas Tuchel's criticism after poor show against Andorra MORE: Why Bukayo Saka is not playing for England against Andorra
