Nottingham Forest are at the centre of UEFA’s decision surrounding Crystal Palace’s involvement in the Europa League, with a potential ‘promotion’ into the competition on the cards.
UEFA are expected to make a decision on Crystal Palace today after Lyon won their appeal against Ligue 1 relegation, putting them back in the Europa League and casting doubt over Palace due to the involvement of John Textor in both clubs.
Despite the noises coming from UEFA, Textor believes Palace will retain their Europa League spot as he believes he can prove that he has no decisive influence on proceedings at Selhurst Park, which would keep Forest in the Conference League if proven correct.
With plenty of confusion surrounding Forest’s Europa League fate, Nottingham Forest News spoke to football finance expert Adam Williams to get the latest on the situation.
Where Nottingham Forest stand ahead of UEFA decision on Crystal Palace
All involved in this situation need a quick solution, and Forest are no different, with the potential difference of Europa League and Conference League football surely impacting Nuno Espírito Santo’s transfer plans.
With UEFA officials set to meet and discuss Palace, Williams has given us his insight on what the speed at which UEFA is now moving could suggest about a potential solution.
He said: “The fact that The Telegraph have clearly been briefed that there is a decision coming today, barely 24 hours after Lyon’s appeal was approved, suggests to me that the CFCB have a decision on Palace locked and loaded.
“From Forest’s perspective, I think this is good news. I don’t really understand how he can say he doesn’t have influence when he owns 43 per cent of the club, meets with the board weekly, has admitted he advises on transfers and so on.
“Just because he isn’t the ultimate decision maker at the club, doesn’t mean he doesn’t have decisive influence. Influence comes in many forms.”
It looks as if Palace are fighting a losing battle in terms of the Textor influence issue, but they continue to have a slight glimmer of hope that Textor’s sale of his shares could be enough to show distance from Lyon.
What Crystal Palace could show UEFA to retain their Europa League spot over Nottingham Forest
Textor is set to sell his shares to Woody Johnson, owner of the New York Jets. However, Williams believes that there is little chance of this finalising in time for UEFA to consider it in their decision.
He continued: “In the background, you also have Woody Johnson’s part-takeover. If he could pass the Premier League’s Owners’ and Directors’ Test in time, that might be a mitigating factor in the verdict.
“But as I’ve reported, the near-universal consensus in the industry and among legal professionals I’ve spoken to is that the stars won’t align there. In terms of what the CFCB First Chamber are actually considering, therefore, it’s whether Textor has decisive influence over Palace.”
A blow for Palace, but positive news for Marinakis and Forest’s chances of a Europa League spot. With all of these matters, though, there is the possibility of an appeal from Palace should the decision go against them.
The likelihood of a successful Crystal Palace appeal if UEFA rule in favour of Nottingham Forest
Given that Marinakis and Textor are good friends, this situation must be a difficult one for them to handle, given the significant boost that a decision going in their favour would then have on the other party.
Of course, Palace could and would likely appeal any outcome that sees Forest take their place in the Europa League, but Williams explained to Nottingham Forest News that this would be unlikely to change the outcome.
He said: “If it goes against them, Palace will challenge the ruling at CAS, but I don’t think they will have much confidence given the rulings we’ve seen from the Court on Drogheda and Silkeborg.”
Drogheda were in an identical situation to Palace, with Silkeborg owned by the same party as the Irish side, and taking their place in the Conference League just as Lyon have done in the Europa League.
Therefore, if UEFA’s decision goes the way of Forest, it looks as if there would be very little opportunity for Palace to appeal successfully, given the previous precedent.
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