Nottingham Forest’s formal request to UEFA regarding Crystal Palace’s Europa League eligibility stems from concerns over potential violations of multi-club ownership regulations. The crux of the matter lies in the ownership structure surrounding both clubs, with American businessman John Textor playing a central role. Textor’s Eagle Football Holdings owns a significant stake in Crystal Palace, as well as a majority stake in French club Lyon. Both teams have qualified for the 2025-26 Europa League, raising questions about potential conflicts of interest under UEFA’s multi-club ownership rules. These regulations are designed to prevent collusion and maintain fair competition within European club football.
UEFA’s rules specifically prohibit any individual or legal entity from holding majority shareholder voting rights in two clubs participating in the same European competition. This stipulation aims to prevent scenarios where a single owner could potentially influence the outcome of matches or exert undue influence on the competition’s integrity. With Textor’s involvement in both Crystal Palace and Lyon, Nottingham Forest argues that a potential breach of these regulations exists, and they have formally requested clarification from UEFA on this matter. The outcome of UEFA’s investigation will have significant implications for both clubs and the overall structure of the competition.
Crystal Palace contends that their qualification for the Europa League was achieved solely on merit, through their historic FA Cup victory over Manchester City. They emphasize the club’s independent operations, asserting that they function separately from the multi-club model of Eagle Football Holdings. The club insists there has been no sharing of personnel, coaching staff, or backroom staff with Lyon. They further deny any collaborative strategies, combined partnerships, sponsorships, commercial deals, or any shared scouting, analysis, or software collaborations. Essentially, Crystal Palace argues that while there is a common owner, the clubs operate independently and thus do not violate UEFA’s regulations.
Nottingham Forest’s interest in this matter stems from their own position in the European qualification hierarchy. Having finished seventh in the Premier League, they secured a spot in the Europa Conference League play-offs. However, if Crystal Palace is deemed ineligible for the Europa League due to the multi-club ownership issue, Forest stands to benefit. They could potentially be elevated to the Europa League, a more prestigious and financially rewarding competition. Therefore, Forest’s request for clarification from UEFA is not purely altruistic but driven by their own competitive ambitions.
This situation mirrors a similar challenge faced by Nottingham Forest earlier in the season. Forest’s owner, Evangelos Marinakis, also controls Olympiakos and Portuguese side Rio Ave. At one point, both Forest and Olympiakos were in contention for Champions League qualification, raising a potential conflict of interest under UEFA’s rules. However, Forest preemptively addressed the issue by Marinakis diluting his control of the club, thus ensuring compliance with the regulations. This preemptive action by Forest highlights the complexities and sensitivities surrounding multi-club ownership within European football.
UEFA’s handling of this situation is crucial, as it sets a precedent for future cases involving multi-club ownership. The increasing prevalence of this ownership model presents ongoing challenges for regulatory bodies like UEFA, who must balance the interests of individual clubs, the integrity of competitions, and the evolving landscape of football ownership. The outcome of the Crystal Palace investigation will significantly impact how UEFA approaches similar situations in the future and could influence the development of more robust regulations related to multi-club ownership. With the first qualifying rounds of both the Europa League and Conference League scheduled for July, a swift and decisive ruling from UEFA is crucial for all parties involved.
