The governing body is currently deliberating on whether Crystal Palace can secure their spot in the Europa League as FA Cup winners. This decision comes amidst potential rule violations involving Palace investor John Textor, who also holds a significant stake in Lyon, another Europa League contender. Should Palace face expulsion, Nottingham Forest might be promoted from the Conference League to the Europa League.
Simon Jordan said: “I am moderately confident they will still play in the Europa League. It feels to me like Palace have just got enough to eke into a situation where they get past this obstacle.”
Kieran Maguire said: “I think the reason Forest are now on the offensive then is you don’t make any money from the Conference League. If we take a look at Chelsea winning it, great for the fans and great for the players. But Chelsea made less money from winning the Conference than Slovan Bratislava in finishing 36th in the Champions League table. You make twice as much money in the Europa League as you do in the Conference League.”
Maguire added: “They did their homework at Forest and realised there was a potential issue if both Olympiacos and Forest ended up in the Champions League so they set up what we refer to as a blind trust, which put Mr Marinakis’s shares into the control of three or four other people. That satisfies the rules. We have seen it before.”
The situation has put Crystal Palace in a precarious position, as they navigate the complexities of UEFA regulations. The potential breach arises from the multi-club ownership model, which has been a contentious issue in European football governance. Nottingham Forest stands to benefit significantly if Palace is expelled, as the financial rewards of participating in the Europa League far outweigh those of the Conference League. The case highlights the intricate balance clubs must maintain in ownership structures to comply with UEFA’s stringent rules.
