Crystal Palace are at serious risk of Europa League expulsion this week after John Textor-owned Lyon successfully overturned relegation in France.
Uefa could make a decision as soon as Thursday after the French authorities confirmed that Lyon, who also qualified for the Europa League, will remain in Ligue 1.
Lyon’s provisional demotion over financial concerns a fortnight ago was announced a day after Textor agreed the sale of his Palace stake to American billionaire Woody Johnson.
Yet, despite Textor’s exit as a 43 per cent shareholder at Selhurst Park, Uefa kept the club in limbo over their automatic Europa League place as FA Cup winners. An arbitrary March cut-off point for ownership changes to avoid breaching multi-club rules means Palace remain highly vulnerable to losing their place after Lyon’s appeal win.
Relegation to Ligue 2 was overturned by the French Football Federation (FFF), which instead imposed a framework for the wage bill and transfer fees in the club’s proposed 2025-26 Ligue 1 budget.
“Olympique Lyonnais welcomes today’s decision... to keep the club in Ligue 1,” Lyon said in a statement.
“Olympique Lyonnais would like to thank the Appeals Committee for recognising the ambition of the club’s new management team, which is determined to ensure that the club is managed seriously in the future.”
Lyon were demoted by French football’s financial watchdog (DNCG) in November over the poor state of their finances under Eagle Football ownership. Initial relegation was confirmed last month after a meeting between club owner John Textor and the DNCG. Women’s football mogul Michele Kang, who owns Lyon’s women’s team OL Lyonnes, has been appointed president, replacing Textor.
“Today’s decision is the first step in restoring confidence in Olympique Lyonnais and we now return our focus to creating success on the pitch, ready for next season,” the French club said.
The First Chamber of Uefa’s Club Financial Control Body had announced it had “decided to postpone its assessment of the multi-club ownership case involving Olympique Lyonnais and Crystal Palace” pending the Lyon appeal.
Johnson is understood to have paid about £200 million to buy 42.9 per cent of Palace previously owned by US investor Textor. The deal was expected to satisfy Uefa that there are no multi-club issues. It is subject to approval by the Premier League and its owners’ and directors’ test.
The development takes Textor out of the picture at Palace, leaving chairman Steve Parish and original US investors Josh Harris and David Blitzer to run the club, with Johnson as a supportive partner. Textor had neglected to place his shares in Lyon in a blind trust by the early-March deadline in order to comply with Uefa rules.