[Football] Which club do you EXPECT to see in Europe next season?

[One Teddy Maybank]

Exactly.

To qualify for a UEFA competition, you need to do the business on the pitch and also have your house in order off the pitch.

Palace have done the first bit, but completely neglected the second bit.

It's not a surprise that has been sprung on them, though - all clubs know the rules - Palace chose to ignore them. Presumably because they thought there was little to no chance of them doing enough on the pitch for it to be a concern.

You’re right.

But since when has that stopped UEFA?

 

[lawros left foot]

This is quite funny.

Palace fans think UEFA is corrupt because there is the possibility they could be kicked out.

Albion fans think UEFA is corrupt because there is the possibility they won’t be kicked out.

Truly, a no win for UEFA.

 

[nickjhs]

If UEFA is giving Textor time, then they’re breaking their own rules of a March 1st cut off date.

I agree, but if this is the case, they won't admit to it, they will find some other excuse. In which case they may as well just scrap the rule.

 

[Zeberdi]

He doesn’t need to completely dispose of his shares, but lower them from 46% to 30% like Tony Bloom did. The problem is that the deadline to do so was March 1st.

Er, well thats what I said - putting the shares into a temporary blind trust is not an option either for the same reason. It takes months to change the stock-holding set up so he would have had to have put the ball in motion several months beforehand - back in January (a few months before the deadline), there wasn’t really the incentive to do so not least because Textor increased his shares in 2023 to get a greater influence in the running of the Club.

TB also had more advance indication it would be needed because we were already knocking on the door with our League place. Also USG doesn’t have the same boardroom rivalry.

It’s more complex than you suggest - it’s rumoured Parish isn’t keen by all accounts to buy shares - Textor isn’t keen to give Parish (who remains the Chairman with only 10% ownership but with the casting vote on the Board)) a majority share anyway as both men are rivals after Textor increased his shares in 2023 in what Parish saw as an attempted takeover.

UEFA can’t demote them to the Conference League as Palace’s majority shareholder, David Blitzer, also boasts a majority stake in Danish club Brondby.

It’s complicated - not least because Textor and the Selhurst Park set up all acknowledge that Europe might be a one off - so changing the fundamental structure of the ownership might not be on the table for them and even if it were, there would be months of competitive wrangling to resolve first.

John Textor launches plan for audacious takeover of Crystal Palace

John Textor, who faces competition from the NY Jets owner Woody Johnson, is in talks with Crystal Palace’s other main shareholders to increase his stake in the club to 80%

www.theguardian.com

 

[Hamilton]

Curious as to why you think Palace deserve to keep their place.. Sure, the team qualified in a very emphatic way, and I would be very agrieved if I were a player or a fan. UEFA introduced these ownership rules for a reason, so they are either justified and necessary or not. It's no good having this rule and then saying, 'yeah, you know what we need it, but hey, let's not enforce it this time, in you come. Just don't do it again'

All the wailing and hair pulling reminds me of when Stevie Foster was banned for the FA cup. Absolutely unfortunate as it was, he was bang to rights and the FA had no choice.

That being said I suspect the reason for the long delay in announcing the decision is that there has been a deal done to give Textor time to sort his mess out

As you say, “the team qualified in a very emphatic way, and I would be very aggrieved if I were a player or a fan.”

They qualified.

Now, there’s a problem with their ownership. They are willing to put their shares into a blind trust. (Which sounds like a fudge in itself) But due to some arbitrary date set by UEFA they can’t.

Just as they should play in Europe because they deserve it, I don’t want to play in Europe when we’ve not earned it.

They’ve not cheated or anything like that.

 

[Hamilton]

Why should it be? They have broken the rules

They haven’t broken any rules. They are currently not meeting the criteria for entry. Big difference.

 

[oldboyroy]

It will be Palace as they will sort it by any means

 

[Flounce]

Getting boring. Palace will be excused and it’s been amusing but so many comments on these Palace threads are coming across as Deja Vu now!

 

[Grizz]

They'll sort it out somehow. All this talk of replacing them is great fun, but they have this knack of sniding their way out of anything and I don't see why this should be any different.

 

[Peacehaven Wild Kids]

Getting boring. Palace will be excused and it’s been amusing but so many comments on these Palace threads are coming across as Deja Vu now!

Well it’s a free country and I wouldn’t like anyone telling me what I/we can post or not on NSC

however, yes, we are literally going round in circles here and I’ll be pleased when it’s resolved and we can get on with the rest of our lives.

 

[Peacehaven Wild Kids]

…..anyway, if we’re taking the question literally it’ll be “neither” for me. Following the Cup Final result I blew all my remaining lieu days I was saving for Europe on various gigs throughout the autumn/winter months.

 

[Flounce]

Well it’s a free country and I wouldn’t like anyone telling me what I/we can post or not on NSC

however, yes, we are literally going round in circles here and I’ll be pleased when it’s resolved and we can get on with the rest of our lives.

True and I am fully aware that nobody on here is going to be vaguely arsed about what I think, doesn’t mean I can’t say it though

 

[nickjhs]

As you say, “the team qualified in a very emphatic way, and I would be very aggrieved if I were a player or a fan.”

They qualified.

Now, there’s a problem with their ownership. They are willing to put their shares into a blind trust. (Which sounds like a fudge in itself) But due to some arbitrary date set by UEFA they can’t.

Just as they should play in Europe because they deserve it, I don’t want to play in Europe when we’ve not earned it.

They’ve not cheated or anything like that.

So UEFA should dump its ownership rules? Also, if Forest had beaten Chelsea or if City had beaten Palace, would we have earned it then?

 

[Official Old Man]

It'll be Palace and, as much as it's Palace and we hate them, no fan deserves to have their European trip cancelled due to the incompetence of the club.
I just wonder who is taking most interest in this though, North Stand Chat or City Group because when UEFA back down you can bet City Group will be buying up clubs in all the big leagues.

 

[Sorrel]

If they don’t apply their rules then it would set a precedent that UEFA lawbreaking is fine.

Yes, you could argue they’ve set that already several times - but why would anyone need bother with this rule in the future then? Whatever get-out is agreed would become acceptable practice for everyone else in the future.

 

[Arrid]

This is quite funny.

Palace fans think UEFA is corrupt because there is the possibility they could be kicked out.

Albion fans think UEFA is corrupt because there is the possibility they won’t be kicked out.

Truly, a no win for UEFA.

Well there is a way to win and it’s applying their own rules.

 

[ConfusedGloryHunter]

Well it’s a free country and I wouldn’t like anyone telling me what I/we can post or not on NSC

however, yes, we are literally going round in circles here and I’ll be pleased when it’s resolved and we can get on with the rest of our lives.

This saga is the best thing to have happened for me at this time. It has been a welcome distraction from the depressing transfer speculation over who we might lose this summer. Long may it continue.

 

[Peacehaven Wild Kids]

This saga is the best thing to have happened for me at this time. It has been a welcome distraction from the depressing transfer speculation over who we might lose this summer. Long may it continue.

Indeed, we’re all different and we all take different things from the written word, some of us are bored with it, some of us are loving it. You say Tomato and I say Potato.

 

[HangletonGull]

This saga is the best thing to have happened for me at this time. It has been a welcome distraction from the depressing transfer speculation over who we might lose this summer. Long may it continue.

Agreed I’m totally enjoying the saga

 

[Sussexscots]

UEFA will doubtless find a piece of linguistic legerdemain that allows them to bend their own rules and enables Palace to compete.

Despite winning the Champions League in 2005, Liverpool shouldn't have been in the following season's competition. They finished fifth in the league. Behind Everton if I recall right. As the rules stood, only the top four qualified and there was no automatic place for the holders.

BBC suggesting no decision before end of month. I imagine they're twisting every which way to find a fudge.

I'll be very surprised if Palace get punted.