Latest news with #JohnTextor
The Independent
10 minutes ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Crystal Palace's European dream is at risk – it's time for football to wake up
Steve Parish 's face at Uefa this week probably said enough. He didn't need to repeat a view he has pressed on people in private - and now to Uefa executives in Nyon - that Crystal Palace are technically not part of a multi-club ownership. A very different interpretation may now cost his club a place in the Europa League, or perhaps European competition altogether. The challenge for the club this week has arguably been more complicated than beating Pep Guardiola's Manchester City in the FA Cup final. They have had to convince Uefa that John Textor does not have 'decisive influence' on the club. This is due to his 43 per cent stake in Palace, while he also holds 88 per cent of fellow Europa League qualifiers Lyon. That situation could fall foul of Uefa's rules that no one may be simultaneously involved in the management, administration or sporting performance of another club in the same competition. The rules evolved out of EU competition law, which is where the definition of 'decisive influence' is so important. In reality, as Textor himself insisted in Switzerland this week, everyone knows that is just not the level of control the US investor has. His 43 per cent equity only translates into 25 per cent of the votes, where it's basically known that co-owners Josh Harris and David Blitzer go with Parish, who has the casting ballot. Textor himself has publicly complained about this many times. That doesn't necessarily hold much weight, however, next to the legal documents that show his stake. It is quite a grim next chapter to one of the most romantic stories of the season, and yet the real tragedy is that this was one of modern football's inevitabilities. The sport is working against itself as a game, and a cultural value, due to its insistence on business. Palace fans themselves warned of this over a year ago, holding up a banner complaining about 'multi-club ownership', and directly criticising Textor. Parish, Blitzer and Harris might now regret leaving the situation unresolved for so long. This is still the kind of mess football was long headed for, because it is not governed properly, and has a lack of proactive regulation. Uefa's ongoing failure to deal with multi-club ownership is the most pressing illustration. And these situations are simply going to become increasingly more common. Current estimates suggest more than 400 clubs around the globe are involved in almost 150 multi-structures. Like state ownership, it was a problem that became embedded before football even realised it existed, let alone the need to address it. There is frustration even within Fifa about this specific issue, as detailed in this writers' book 'States of Play', with one source claiming 'everyone could see multi-clubs coming'. When some staff raised this, there was pushback. It really goes even deeper than that. Despite the club operating as the basic unit of football, due to its social importance, Fifa has never defined exactly what one is. That is one of many reasons that football has developed what is really an ownership problem, which has been discussed on these pages at length. A multi-faceted issue like multi-club ownership is a natural evolution from that. Football has long since been taken over by capitalist and political interests, so this was always going to the next level. The worst part is not just how the clubs are used. It is how their identities are subsumed. They are not just Strasbourg or Troyes anymore, after all, but Strasbourg and Troyes that serve bigger structures in Chelsea and City Football Group. And the model is almost always going to best serve the biggest club in those structures. Now, we reach the next stage of this, where a club's actual dreams might be denied. It should be a wake-up call for football, but will it be? A further problem is that multi-club ownership straddles so many of the game's major faultlines. Above anything, industry sources complain about the 'vagueness' of the enforcement of regulations around this. There's no legal framework in place. Some in football were already pointing to how 'this never happens to the big clubs'. Others have referenced how Parish worked with the Union of European Clubs, a body casting itself as a voice for those clubs not represented by the European Club Association. Paris Saint-Germain's Nasser Al-Khelaifi is, of course, the chair of the latter, who has been locked in a number of battles with Textor in France. It is ultimately galling that Palace may miss out because they didn't meet the March deadline to put the club in a blind trust, as Evangelos Marinakis did with Nottingham Forest to avoid a similar clash with his Olympiakos. On the other hand, Palace's oversight could just be cast as another consequence of the modern game. The wealthiest clubs almost always win, so why tempt fate - and potential schadenfreude - by opting for a blind trust as early as the FA Cup quarter-final? It would certainly have gone against the sense of romance and defiance. And while multiple lawyers and football officials might point to the absurdity of such a sentiment, it is surely all the more absurd that the situation even exists. There is still hope. Uefa might come down on Palace's side, given the pressure, given the sense of romance. Fans didn't want this. Only a certain type of investor wants it. Multi-club ownership goes against everything football should be, to the point it might somehow sour one of football's great modern stories. It's an almost fitting parable for the modern game.
Daily Mirror
10 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Crystal Palace discover likely date for verdict on European football ban
Crystal Palace secured their spot in next season's Europa League after winning the FA Cup but their participation in the competition is in major doubt with UEFA set to make a decision Crystal Palace face a near MONTH LONG wait to discover their European fate. The Eagles secured their spot in the Europa League at the end of the season after beating Manchester City in the FA Cup final. They were set to go straight into the league stage of the competition but there are now doubts over whether the south Londoners can actually compete in the tournament. UEFA rules forbid individuals having control of more than club to be in the same competition at the same time to avoid conflicts of interest. Eagle Football - the group owned by John Textor - is a minority shareholder in Palace, while they are also a majority shareholder in French side Lyon. Both clubs have secured qualification for the Europa League. As it stands, Lyon get priority over the Premier League side due to their superior league finish last term. Palace chiefs have attempted to win UEFA over by flying to their headquarters in Switzerland for talks. But it appears that Palace will have to sweat for a while over their prospects of playing Europe next season. That's according to the BBC, who say a decision from UEFA is not expected until at least the end of the month. The news will be a huge blow to Palace's hopes of planning for next season. Boss Oliver Glasner has already admitted that a place in Europe could affect their transfer ambitions. Speaking earlier this year, he said: 'From a financial perspective, Crystal Palace will never be a top-four club in England. Not with all the other big clubs here and that's not necessary because not everybody can be a top-four club. It's just not possible. 'This club got promoted in 2013. Since then, it has always progressed. Not huge steps. You can be a one-hit wonder and then you're gone. We said: our planning shouldn't be, 'Now we play in Europe, so let's do crazy things', and then everything collapses. We follow a pathway. 'This pathway didn't start with Oliver Glasner. It started with the new owners in 2010. Very stable, mid-table, always between 10 and 15. And this is where we are again. 'Now, it's step by step. Winning this trophy, playing internationally, getting this experience, and maybe getting some players we couldn't by playing European football. This can help us take the next step.' Palace have already seen one of their Premier League rivals take action regarding their European hopes. Nottingham Forest also saw a potential spot in the Champions League in jeopardy due to Evangelos Marinakis' ownership of Greek giants Olympiacos. He diluted his control of the East Midlands club by placing his shares in a blind trust. But Textor is unlikely to follow that example because he and Eagle Football do not have decisive influence over the Croydon outfit. Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
BBC News
20 hours ago
- Business
- BBC News
Palace hold talks with Mateta over new deal
Crystal Palace are in talks with striker Jean-Philippe Mateta over signing a new contract.A full agreement is still to be reached but it is understood a deal is now 27-year-old was a standout performer in Oliver Glasner's side last season, scoring 17 goals in all competitions as Palace won the FA Cup - their first major Frenchman, who joined from Mainz initially on loan in 2021, has been linked with a move away from Selhurst Park, with Aston Villa, Manchester United and Marseille among the clubs credited with an current deal runs out in 2027 after the Eagles triggered a 12-month extension on his Palace are reluctant to allow Mateta to enter the final year of his deal and want to secure his long-term Sport reported earlier that Glasner's side could have to wait until the end of the month to find out if they are able to play in the 2025-26 Europa League, which may play a factor in Mateta's rules forbid individuals from having control of more than one club in the same competition to avoid conflicts of Football - the multi-club group owned by John Textor which includes a minority shareholding in Palace - owns a majority stake in Ligue 1 side Lyon, who have also qualified for next season's competition.
BBC News
a day ago
- Business
- BBC News
Crystal Palace face wait over Europa League ruling
Crystal Palace are expected to have to wait until the end of the month to find out if they are able to play in the 2025-26 Europa League, according to sources with knowledge of the Eagles hierarchy travelled to Switzerland on Tuesday to discuss with Uefa officials about their participation in the rules forbid individuals from having control of more than one club in the same competition to avoid conflicts of Football - the multi-club group owned by John Textor which includes a minority shareholding in Palace - owns a majority stake in Ligue 1 side Lyon, who have also qualified for next season's are arguing that Textor - who has repeatedly tried to sell his stake with the club - does not have decisive places are used to determine who gets to play in the competition and given the French side finished sixth, they get priority over Palace, who ended 12th in the Premier original feeling was that the decision about their participation would come in the next week but sources now say that a ruling will come towards the end of June. How did Palace get here? Palace qualified for the Europa League by beating Manchester City to win the FA finished sixth in the French top flight to initially gain a spot in the Conference League, but were promoted to the Europa League competition after Paris St-Germain - already qualified for the Champions League - won the Coupe de Eagle Football, Textor - who initially invested £90m into Crystal Palace in 2021 - owns around 45% of the club and 90% of American was appointed a director and joined co-owner Steve Parish, Josh Harris and David Blitzer on the January 2022, he invested in Brazilian club Botafogo and Belgian side RWD Molenbeek. Eagle Football still has controlling interests in both became the owner of Lyon in June Eagle Football has only has a 45% stake in Palace, the club is not part of the group's multi-club organisation. Palace have not signed a player from any of those clubs, although Jake O'Brien, now at Everton, did move to Lyon from their has tried to purchase a controlling stake in Palace in the past because it is thought he would prefer to have overall control of the he has more recently tried to buy Everton and also sought a buyer for his Palace an interview with the BBC last year, he said he does not run Palace - chairman and co-owner Parish does - although he can share his also conceded the pair disagree on their views over multi-club Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis recently diluted his control at the club by placing his shares in a blind trust, when it looked like both Forest and Olympiakos - another club the Greek businessman owned - may both qualify for the Champions sources close to Eagle Football believe putting those Palace shares in a 'blind trust' is not an option because Textor and Eagle Football do not have decisive influence over the Selhurst Park Palace and Uefa have both been approached for comment.
The Sun
2 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
Crystal Palace closer than ever to being kicked out of Europe as Man Utd trick to stay in Europa League fails
CRYSTAL PALACE are facing complete EXPULSION from Europe next season after Uefa rejected a desperate ploy from club shareholders. The Eagles are facing the prospect of not playing in the Europa League, which they qualified for by winning the FA Cup, due to shareholder John Textor owning a stake in French outfit in Lyon. 4 4 4 Lyon are also set to feature in the competition having qualified with a sixth-placed finish in the Ligue 1 last season. Uefa rules prohibit anyone from "simultaneously be involved in any capacity whatsoever in the management, administration, and/or sporting performance of more than one club participating in a Uefa club competition." The prospect of Palace dropping into the Conference League is also nigh-on impossible as other shareholder David Blizter also has a stake in Danish oufit Brondby, who are set to play in European football 's tertiary club competition next season. In a desperate bid to see the Eagles fly across Europe next season and comply with Uefa rules, Textor and Blizter offered to put their shares in a blind trust. But Uefa chiefs have REJECTED the offer, leaving Palace's proposed European adventure next season in limbo. The proposal was rejected as Palace missed the registration deadline to submit it. Had it been approved, a blind trust would've seen a group of trustees take control of Textor's shares in Palace for the 2025/26 season. English clubs aren't strangers to utilising blind trusts so as not to fall afoul of Uefa rules. JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS 4 Manchester City and Manchester United utilised blind trusts last season as sister clubs Girona and Nice both qualified for the Champions League and Europa League respectively. Palace held crunch talks with Uefa to try to resolve the potentially devastating issue earlier this week. And the meeting on the shores of Lake Geneva ended up in Textor putting his shares in the south London club up for sale. He told The Daily Mail: "Look, all of the UK knows that I don't have decisive influence over Palace. It was a good meeting. "They listened and we'll see what happens. I wouldn't be trying to sell (his stake) if I did." Textor, 59, added: ""We are trying to help separate it and sell. "We wanted to buy but it's become clear that isn't going to happen and so we're trying to help Palace and the situation with UEFA. "That's about all I can say."
