John Textor resigns from Lyon and teases role at 'next club in England' as Crystal Palace wait on UEFA fate

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Evening Standard

·30 giugno 2025

John Textor resigns from Lyon and teases role at 'next club in England' as Crystal Palace wait on UEFA fate

The American wants to get back into the English game after selling his Crystal Palace stake

John Textor has resigned from his leadership positions at Lyon, as Crystal Palace wait to learn whether they can compete in the Europa League next season.

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Palace qualified for the Europa League by winning the FA Cup last season, but their place in the competition is at risk because of UEFA’s multi-club ownership rules.

UEFA regulations state that no individual can have decisive “control” over two clubs competing in the same European competition.

Textor owns a majority share in French side Lyon and a 43 per cent stake in Crystal Palace through his company, Eagle Football Holdings.

Textor, however, last week signed a “legally binding contract” to sell his stake in Palace to New York Jets owner Woody Johnson.

That has been followed up by Textor announcing on Monday morning that he has resigned from his leadership positions at Lyon.

Michael Gerlinger has been appointed to the position of Director General (CEO), and Michele Kang to the position of Chair and President.

Crystal Palace are waiting to learn on Monday if they will be allowed to compete in next season’s Europa League.

The Eagles are awaiting the result from an investigation by UEFA’s Club Financial Control Body (CFCB), which is a panel that operates independently from European football’s governing body. A decision had been expected last Friday, but it was delayed.

Textor - who remains Chairman, CEO and majority owner of Eagle Football Holdings - has confirmed he is stepping back from Lyon and his day-to-day responsibilities will now be focused elsewhere, with the American businessman hinting about becoming involved in another English club.

“On a personal level, I am truly looking forward to the reduction of my day-to-day management responsibilities in Europe, so I can focus on markets where we have the full freedom to run our football clubs…to invest, innovate, grow and compete,” said Textor.

“OL (Lyon) in great hands with Michele, and I will focus on Botafogo, Daring Brussels and our next club in England.

“I am extremely proud of the global sporting successes of Eagle Football, with historic championships, cup wins, and tournament qualifications in Brazil, France and England, but it’s clear that we must make changes in our management approach, if we expect to be as effective off-the-pitch, as we are on-the-pitch.

“Each of our clubs and communities deserve leadership, with a strong local presence, and the acumen to overcome both the sporting and the nonsporting challenges that we face.

“It’s obvious to everyone that Michele is a perfect choice to lead OL, and I am thrilled for our community that she has accepted the job.”