The winner of the FA Cup, Crystal Palace, has been excluded from the UEFA Europa League due to a breach of ownership regulations involving multiple clubs under a single owner. The London club shares ownership with French side Olympique Lyonnais — both controlled by John Textor — prompting UEFA to retain Lyon in the tournament while relegating the Eagles to the UEFA Conference League, reports Baltimore Chronicle.
According to UEFA rules, clubs that are owned or significantly influenced by the same individual or group are prohibited from participating in the same European competition. In this case, both Crystal Palace and Lyon fall under the control of American businessman John Textor.
Earlier this week, Lyon successfully appealed its relegation from Ligue 1, which allowed the club to remain in France’s top division and become eligible for participation in the Europa League. This legal victory played a crucial role in UEFA’s decision, effectively excluding the English club in favor of the French one.
As a result, despite Crystal Palace’s domestic success, the club will participate in the less prestigious UEFA Conference League next season, while Lyon takes its spot in the Europa League based on UEFA’s regulatory framework.
Earlier we wrote that biathlete Anne Bunemann de Besche switches from Norway to Denmark.