As Crystal Palace talk about “shattered hopes and dreams” in a strident statement, specifically criticising the European football power structure, there was some bristling within Uefa. In Nyon, sources say, there had been considerable “satisfaction” that the rigour of their rules on multi-club ownership was adhered to in the Court of Arbitration ruling on Crystal Palace’s appeal. Emotion against the letter of the law, they may claim.
The FA Cup winners missed the 1 March deadline for former part-owner John Textor’s shares to be placed in a blind trust, given his share in Europa League qualifiers Lyon. It was then found that Textor had “decisive influence” over Palace, after chairman Steve Parish was extensively cross-examined by Nottingham Forest’s five-strong legal team over the issue.
