New York Jets owner Woody Johnson may see his new investment in Crystal Palace take a slight hit after news the club may be kicked out of next year’s Europa League
17:37 ET, 02 Jul 2025Updated 17:37 ET, 02 Jul 2025
Woody Johnson may soon become a Premier League owner(Image: Getty Images)
Longtime New York Jets owner Woody Johnson made headlines last fall when he involved himself in the team’s decision-making process to fire head coach Robert Saleh. Now, the heir to the Johnson & Johnson heirloom is seeking a new business inquest: Crystal Palace, currently in their 13th consecutive season in the Premier League.
Part of the appeal for Johnson’s $254 million bid is the club’s slated 2025/26 involvement in the Europa League, earned by the Eagles’ shocking Manchester City 1-0 in May’s FA Cup final. Johnson’s purchase has not been codified due to the Premier League’s laborious “Fit-and-proper-person-test,” but a recent statement from the club claimed they “do not envisage any issues” with the move.
However, Palace may soon be booted from the competition. Why? Currently, both the South London outfit and French club Lyon are owned by John Textor of the ironically-named Eagle Football Group.
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Both clubs qualified for the Europa League, and UEFA rules state that two organizations from multi-ownership groups cannot feature. According to Sky Sports, Crystal Palace “genuinely fear” for their status in the Europa League and may play in the Conference League instead.
Textor also owns Brazilian side Botofogo, who recently impressed at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, and Belgian outfit RWD Molenbeek. He is reportedly looking to prioritize those two ventures going forward.
Irish Premier Division side Drogheda United recently saw their participation in the UEFA Conference League taken away due to sister-club Silkeborg — a Danish team also owned by the Trivela Group — qualifying for the same tournament.
Crystal Palace celebrate taking the lead over Manchester City in the FA Cup final(Image: Getty Images)
Johnson may be handed a lifeline: Lyon was recently relegated to the second tier of French football due to financial difficulties. This move would also end their participation in the Europa League.
UEFA is waiting on the official ruling from French football on Lyon’s relegation appeal before revoking or awarding Palace participation in the Europa League. If the relegation stands, they will play and have a chance to qualify for the UEFA Champions League.