Optimism fades at Palace as the waiting goes on

Lyon will remain in Ligue 1 next season after winning their appeal over the relegation imposed upon them by the body which oversees the finances of French football teams, the club confirmed in a statement.

The decision means Lyon will maintain their top-flight status, which they have retained since the 1988-89 season.

Lyon finished the 2024-25 Ligue 1 campaign in sixth, making the Europa League alongside fifth-place Lille. Their qualification raised uncertainty over Palace’s participation in the European competition next season following their maiden FA Cup triumph, due to multi-club ownership rules — relating to Textor’s Eagle Football’s involvement in both clubs — and Lyon’s superior league placement giving them priority in participating.

UEFA had postponed its decision on Palace’s place in the Europa League until after the decision on Lyon’s relegation and there has been no update yet from European football’s governing body.

If Palace are barred from the competition, Nottingham Forest — who qualified for the Conference League after finishing seventh in the Premier League — would take their place. Palace would probably then drop into the Conference League.

This changes little in reality for Palace, and serves only to prolong their wait. Had Lyon failed in their appeal, there would be no conflict and Palace would be in the Europa League. As it is, they will now wait pensively for the outcome of UEFA’s deliberations as to whether Textor had decisive influence at the south London club. If they rule he did, then it will be the Conference League next season for them.

Yet it remains possible that both sides could compete in the same competition. If UEFA decide Textor did not have decisive influence, then they will be free to play in the Europa League.

An unsuccessful Lyon appeal would have been the best outcome for UEFA and Palace, leaving no decision to be made. Palace’s hope initially was that Lyon’s financial issues would preclude their participation in Europe and free them to compete instead. That hope was well-placed given Lyon’s relegation last week, but Eagle Football’s plan to turn those finances around was sufficiently convincing and they were reinstated.

They strongly believe Textor has never had decisive influence and maintain that position, so will hope that convinces UEFA. Clearly, though, there is a decision to make, even if it ends up falling favourably for Palace.

Palace are prepared to take their case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport should UEFA rule against them.

There is concern at the club that the failure to admit them already to the Europa League could mean the decision will not be in their favour. Their initial confidence that firstly Lyon’s financial issues would prevent the French side from being granted a licence to participate in Europe and then that even if they were, Textor had no decisive influence, has gradually eroded.

The waiting goes on for Palace, and as it does, optimism begins to wane a little. I know that ‘rules is rules’ but it would be a gross injustice if Palace had to play in the Conference League. They won the FA Cup against the odds and with it the prize of Europa League participation. Unfortunately, the football authorities are not blessed with common sense.

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The Political Economy of Football V2

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