John Textor Reveals His Concern After Crystal Palace’s FA Cup Triumph
The American businessman John Textor has shared his first impressions after Crystal Palace’s victory in the FA Cup, showing his initial concern. The FA Cup victory grants the team a place in the Europa League, but Palace’s participation in this season’s competition is at risk due to UEFA regulations on multi-club ownership. Eagle Football Group, Textor’s parent company, owns a 43% stake in Palace, as well as owning the French club Lyon. Despite having qualified for the Europa League last season, both clubs could be prevented from participating in the competition. According to UEFA regulations, if an entity has more than 30% ownership in two different clubs, they cannot compete in the same European competition. Textor, present at Wembley Stadium after Palace’s historic triumph, was aware of the possible consequences for his clubs.“I was very happy, but I felt the gravity of the situation. I was worried the same day I held the cup next to Prince William. “It was a great moment. I couldn’t have been happier for the fans, but I was worried about what would come,” he added. Textor is in the process of selling his stake in Palace for £190 million ($254 million) to the owner of the New York Jets, Woody Johnson, but the deal has not yet been confirmed. Meanwhile, Lyon’s demotion to Ligue 2 due to financial problems, which was revoked on Wednesday, led Textor to resign from his position as president.“Oh s***”, was what I thought”, revealed Textor about his reaction after Palace beat Manchester City 1-0 in the final.
John Textor
Despite these events, UEFA has not yet issued a resolution on the participation of clubs in the Europa League. A source informed that a decision is expected in the coming days.
“I am naive and successful enough not to predict what a governing body will say,” Textor commented. “Sometimes, I’ve been so sure of how we would come out of a hearing with the DNCG or with UEFA. So never, never, never try to predict what they’re going to do. I think it’s an insult to them. I think they deserve to make a decision, and I don’t want to prejudge it. I believe this conversation about trust only applies if you have a decisive influence. Why should I put my interests in trust before March when the rule says you only have to do it if you have a decisive influence? I don’t have it. But you don’t see a single player from our club network who has made it to the Palace squad. That is the source of my frustration with the lack of collaboration we have been able to have with Crystal Palace.
