Double-Club Dilemma: UEFA Weighs a Fresh Start for Multi-Club Ownership

Context

UEFA is weighing changes to its rules on ownership of clubs that hold stakes in more than one team. The move could reshape European competition and has already sparked a response from Crystal Palace, which faced exclusion from European competition under the current framework.

What happened

According to The Mirror, Palace were barred by UEFA from competing in the Europa League despite qualifying after winning the FA Cup, due to American businessman John Textor’s stakes in both Palace and Lyon—a perceived conflict of interest by UEFA. As a result, Palace were excluded from European competition, and Nottingham Forest were granted Palace’s spot.

Recent developments indicate UEFA is considering a review of these controversial rules, provoking frustration within Palace’s leadership.

The Guardian reported that UEFA is examining a possible extension of the March 1 deadline to resolve ownership issues.

Proposed changes

Under the proposed changes, clubs would be required to notify UEFA of any potential conflict before the original deadline, but they would gain until June to address the issues, just weeks before the opening rounds of both the Europa League and the Conference League.

Clubs that fail to notify by the original date would still be in breach of regulations.

The topic was discussed at a meeting of the European Club Association in Rome last week.

Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish criticized the rules in remarks to Sky Sports, saying: "The rule will be changed; no one will continue applying it in this way. It’s a mad rule. I don’t understand how the committee reached this decision." He added: "We have shown beyond doubt that John Textor does not wield decisive influence over the club’s management or decisions, yet the ruling remains odd." He continued: "Either you ban multi-club ownership outright or regulate it clearly; in our case we were never part of that system. I am clear: I do not support owning multiple clubs, but some people disagree with me, and that’s fine, but we have no involvement." Parish concluded: "We are at a real crossroads for UEFA; they must intervene and fix this mistake. If they let things continue, we could witness one of the greatest injustices in European football history."

Working-Class Symbol

Crystal Palace is among England’s oldest clubs, founded in 1905 in the Selhurst area of south London. The club’s name comes from the famous Crystal Palace building, a landmark of the capital in the 19th century, and the club has long embodied south London’s working-class identity.

The team began in the lower tiers, overcoming financial and sporting hurdles in its early years, and earned top-flight promotion in 1969-70, establishing itself among England’s elite. The late 1980s and early 1990s marked a peak, including a third-place finish in 1990-1991 and a FA Cup Final appearance in 1990 against Manchester United, which ended in a 3-3 draw before the replay loss.

Despite periods of fluctuation between the Premier League and the First Division, Palace has maintained a large, loyal fan base at Selhurst Park, renowned for its atmosphere. Since returning to the Premier League in 2013, the club has stabilized under modern administration led by Steve Parish, with players like Wilfried Zaha shaping the era. The club has invested in infrastructure, training facilities, and commercial development, reinforcing its identity as a clear, ambitious English club.

Although Palace has yet to win major trophies, its journey from a modest local club to a consistent top-flight challenger stands as a testament to perseverance and a reminder that the heart of football often matters as much as the hardware on the shelf.

In sum, Palace’s tale—history, identity, and resilience—continues to define its role in English football, even as the governance rules around multi-club ownership seek to catch up with modern realities.

Punchline 1: If UEFA’s rulebook gets any thicker, they’ll need a referee to referee the footnotes. Sniper-level bureaucracy, engaged.

Punchline 2: If this rule drama keeps unfolding, maybe I should own two clubs too—just to prove the calendar can handle more deadlines than my inbox can handle.