What Is Multi-club Ownership, and Why Is It Growing?
Multiclub ownership refers to a model where one individual, consortium, or company owns stakes in more than one football club. This trend has accelerated over the past decade, with investors looking to spread their influence, share resources, and build global football networks. Prominent examples include the City Football Group, which controls clubs like Manchester City and Girona FC, and Red Bull’s sporting empire, which spans RB Leipzig, Red Bull Salzburg, and others.
Ownership across multiple clubs opens doors to easier talent development, streamlined scouting, and shared commercial ventures. However, it also raises serious concerns when those clubs qualify for the same UEFA competition.
How Did Multiclub Ownership Lead to Crystal Palace’s UEFA Dilemma?
Crystal Palace recently secured qualification for the 2025/26 UEFA Europa League—a milestone achievement. But instead of celebrating, the club faces exclusion due to its ownership ties.
John Textor, through his company Eagle Football Holdings, owns a significant stake in Crystal Palace and also controls Olympique Lyonnais, who also qualified for the Europa League. UEFA regulations prohibit two clubs under “decisive influence” from the same ownership from competing in the same tournament.
Lyon finished higher in their domestic league, so if the conflict remains unresolved, Palace could be dropped. Nottingham Forest and Brighton stand to benefit if UEFA rules against the South London side.
Why Did UEFA Introduce Multiclub Ownership Rules?
UEFA designed these rules to preserve the integrity of its competitions. When one owner influences multiple clubs in the same tournament, it introduces the risk—or at least the perception—of biased outcomes.
Matches could come under scrutiny, especially if both clubs progress deep into the competition or, worse, face each other. UEFA wants to eliminate all doubts by ensuring each club competes independently and without coordinated influence.
What Do UEFA’s Rules Actually Say About Multiclub Ownership?
According to Article 5 of UEFA’s Club Licensing and Financial Sustainability Regulations (2024 Edition), no person or company can exercise control or influence over more than one club in the same European competition season. This includes having majority voting rights, controlling board appointments, or any power that allows decisive influence.
Clubs had until March 1, 2025, to restructure ownership and avoid conflict. Palace’s owners submitted a blind trust proposal, hoping to meet UEFA’s requirements, but missed the deadline. UEFA rejected the submission on procedural grounds.
Can Crystal Palace Still Compete in Europe?
That decision now rests with UEFA’s Club Financial Control Body. If they conclude that Textor maintains decisive influence over both Lyon and Palace, the French side will keep their Europa League spot while Palace miss out. Palace has appealed, citing limited voting power and lack of shared board members, but the case remains unresolved.
Meanwhile, alternative beneficiaries like Nottingham Forest have formally challenged Palace’s eligibility. The final call is expected before the Europa League draw in mid-June.
What’s the Bigger Picture in the Multiclub Ownership Debate?
The Crystal Palace situation is not just a technicality—it’s a warning signal. As football investment becomes more global, more clubs will fall under shared ownership structures. Without strict enforcement, the core value of sporting merit could erode.
UEFA’s stance reinforces that financial innovation must not come at the cost of competitive integrity. It’s a balancing act between embracing modern football economics and safeguarding the game’s foundational principles.
What Lies Ahead for Multiclub Ownership in Europe?
Clubs and investors now face a clearer message: structure your holdings in compliance with UEFA’s timelines and rules or risk disqualification. Football governance may evolve, but trust in the sport demands that every club competes on a level playing field.
Crystal Palace’s fate might hinge on technical definitions of influence, but the broader lesson is unmistakable. Multiclub ownership, while commercially attractive, must never threaten the fairness of competition.
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