CRYSTAL PALACE face being KICKED OUT of the Europa League after Lyon won their appeal against relegation from the French top flight.
Uefa officials now have to rule on whether the FA Cup-winning Eagles can take their place in the Europa League with a decision expected this week.
But the signs are that Nyon bosses will rule that Palace’s failure to meet their requirements on clubs under multi-club ownership means they cannot play in the same competition as the French outfit.
That’s despite US businessman John Textor selling his shares in the Selhurst Park side.
And that will see Palace forced to drop down to Uefa’s third competition, with Nottingham Forest promoted in their place.
Should the decision go against the Eagles, they are expected to take an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Uefa will now have to make a call after Lyon’s appeal to French football’s financial regulator, who relegated them over the club;’s soaring debts, was successful.
Lyon had cut a deal with Uefa that they would be allowed to play in the Europa League if their appeal was won but that they would give up any rights to play in European competition if the appeal went against them.
In order to satisfy financial chiefs in Paris, Lyon had to find nearly £100m up front by the hearing, with guarantees for another £100m on top.
Textor, whose Eagle Football Group also owns Brazilians Botafogo and Belgian side Molenbeek, was kicked off the Lyon board after the initial hearing.
It was his 44.9 per cent stake in Palace – despite being kept at arms length from decision-making by chairman Steve Parish and Americans Josh Harris and Dave Blitzer – that meant the club fell foul of Uefa rules.
Under those regulations, Palace needed to prove that none of their major shareholders had a significant position at any other club by the March 1 deadline.
However, Palace were not expecting their FA Cup success – the first major trophy in their history.
That surprise win over Manchester City saw the club suddenly faced with a Uefa hurdle, with Lyon’s sixth placed finish in Ligue 1 giving them priority over the South East Londoners.
In a statement, Lyon said: “Olympique Lyonnais welcomes today’s decision from the DNCG which restores our position in Ligue 1 and is grateful that the appeal commission recognises the ambition of the club’s new management to ensure a professionalised administration of its affairs going forward.”
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