The Eagle Football Group is the majority owner of Lyon.Their chairman, John Textor, also possesses a controlling interest in Palace..

Palace qualified for the Europa League by winning the FA Cup last season, while Lyon secured their spot by finishing sixth in Ligue 1.

A proposal to demote them to Ligue 2 due to financial issues was reversed on Wednesday, a decision the UEFA Club Financial Control Body (CFCB) awaited before making a ruling on the multi-club ownership case.

"As a result, the CFCB First Chamber continued to evaluate the documentation provided by Olympique Lyonnais and Crystal Palace and determined that the clubs violated the multi-club ownership criteria as of March 1, 2025," UEFA stated.

Since both Lyon and Palace had qualified for the Europa League, the French club was allowed to retain its position as they finished higher in their league, with Palace ending up 12th in the Premier League.

Palace still has the option to appeal the decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Last month, Palace announced that Robert Wood 'Woody' Johnson, co-owner of the New York Jets, had signed a legally binding agreement to acquire Eagle Football Holding's stake in the Premier League club, pending approval from the Premier League.

However, Palace missed the March deadline to adhere to the multi-club ownership regulations.

The regulations state that no club may hold or trade in securities or shares of any other club participating in UEFA competitions, and that no club can be a member of any other club involved in UEFA competitions.

Moreover, no individual may simultaneously engage in the management, administration, and/or sporting performance of more than one club, and they must not exert control or decisive influence over multiple clubs.