Crystal Palace Execs Rush to UEFA to Make European Playoff Case – Stakes High

It was almost symbolic that the major trophies that usually take pride of place inside UEFA’s House of European Football were missing.

The glass presentation cases, proudly perched at reception in front of the huge windows offering a stunning vista over Lake Geneva at HQ, stood empty, with the recently-acquired silverware currently on tour elsewhere.

Meanwhile, in a wood-panelled meeting room directly downstairs in this luxurious, lakeside lair, Crystal Palace powerbrokers were attempting to stop their continental dream from vanishing.

Ahead of this Swiss summit, revealed on Monday by Mail Sport, Palace insiders were confident that their majority shareholder’s ownership of Lyon would not stop them from participating in this season’s Europa League for a historic first time under competition rules following their stunning FA Cup triumph.

However, the results of what transpired over a high-stakes two hours with UEFA officials and lawyers in the shadows of Mont Blanc remain to be seen.

What can be said is that two of the key players involved cut very different figures. What can also now be said is that one of them is now actively trying to find a way out with the clock ticking towards the draw for qualifying rounds on June 17. John Textor, the US businessman whose interest in the French side appears to have put the Eagles’ big adventure in danger of collapse thanks to UEFA’s multi-club ownership rules, fronted it up.

When asked by Mail Sport how the talks had gone he was initially guarded, before dropping a comment that highlighted the graveness of the situation. ‘You want me to comment on this whole thing?’ he responded, ‘I can’t really say anything.’ 

However, when pressed, it turned out he did have something to say. ‘Look, all of the UK knows that I don’t have decisive influence over Palace,’ he said. ‘It was a good meeting. They listened and we’ll see what happens.’ As a parting shot, he added: ‘I wouldn’t be trying to sell if I did (have decisive influence).’

Reports as recently as last month had claimed that Textor, frustrated that his 43 per cent share in Palace only comes with just 25 per cent of the voting rights, was actively seeking to complete a takeover at Selhurst Park and that he was in talks with fellow American shareholders David Blitzer and Josh Harris about buying their shares – which constitute about 36 per cent of the club. 

But when quizzed about that he was unequivocal that the direction of travel had changed dramatically. ‘Look, we are trying to help separate it and sell,’ he added. ‘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.’

Textor and Steve Parish are believed to have fallen out when the American increased his stake. Perhaps the Englishman had seen this one coming. Either way, he was not in the mood for talking when he appeared from an opposite direction.

Wearing a blue suit and carrying a black suitcase on wheels, he thanked reception staff before refusing to answer questions or even acknowledging Mail Sport. When asked how the hearing had gone, or whether he would like to comment, Parish did not offer a single word in return, nor make eye contact. Instead, he passed his bag to the driver of a waiting, black Mercedes 4×4, and sat motionless in the back seat. The driver smiled apologetically before whisking his passenger away from the scene.

Without wishing to speculate, the fact that Parish was here and not at the Premier League’s annual general meeting would seem to hint at the seriousness of the situation. The Palace chairman is a regular at such events and is often one of the more active participants.

UEFA declined to comment on proceedings and what happens over the coming weeks will be key.

Should Textor manage to find a buyer at an acceptable price then the problem, like those trophies, goes away. That is by no means a given. Palace are an incredibly attractive proposition. A stable Premier League club with a respected manager and European football. However, the fact that this is in effect a forced sale may do little to get him the price he feels he deserves. 

Neither too, will be the prospect of someone else coming in and being subject to the same portion of input that has left him seeking the exit door. Getting a deal done in such a short space of time, with the draw for the early stages of European competition to take place on June 17, may also prove to be a tough ask.

This is a complex situation with no precedent. UEFA’s rules state that clubs with the same ownership groups cannot play in the same competition. They say: ‘No club can hold or deal in the securities or shares or any other club, be a member of any other club participating in a competition, be involved in any capacity whatsoever in the management, administration and or sporting performance of any other club, have any other power in the management, administration or sporting performance of another club’. 

They add: ‘No individual can hold a majority of shareholder voting rights, being able to exercise a decisive influence on the decision making of more than one club’. Clear much? To further complicate matters Danish outfit Brondby, who just happen to be owned by Palace shareholder David Blitzer’s investment vehicle, may be in line to take the spot in the Europa Conference League, should Palace be told they cannot play in the Europa League and effectively take ‘relegation’. It is messy. 

One of the matters Mail Sport understands is being explored is whether Palace’s qualification to a higher-ranked competition places them above the Danes. If that transpires, then it would not go down well in Brondby.

Palace will hope that it does not come to that. They remain of the view that the fact Textor only holds 25 per cent of the rights along with Parish, Harris and Blitzer, means they satisfy the criteria – essentially in that Textor is an owner without being an owner.

The season may be over but for Textor and Palace, the action continues apace.