Palace’s Europa League Spot In Doubt As Lyon Appeal Successful

The French giants are now expected to keep their Europa League place

Lyon have been successful in their appeal against their relegation from Ligue 1, in a potential blow to Crystal Palace’s hopes of playing in the Europa League next season.

French club Lyon have maintained their Ligue 1 status following an appeal hearing and are now expected to keep their place in the Europa League.

UEFA rules on multi-club ownership prevent two teams with the same ownership from playing in the same competition.

FA Cup winners Palace are facing the threat of expulsion from the Europa League because co-owner John Textor also owns a majority stake in Ligue 1 side Lyon.

Palace argue that Textor does not hold any decisive influence at Selhurst Park and he last month agreed to sell his 43 per cent stake in the club to New York Jets owner Woody Johnson in a deal thought to be worth close to £190million. Textor also last month resigned from his position on the Lyon board.

But Palace missed the March deadline to change their ownership structures to comply with UEFA multi-club ownership rules.

Palace now face a nervous wait for a UEFA ruling. They will almost certainly launch a legal fight against any decision to ban them from the Europa League next season.