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2021-22-23-24 News Thread

It looks like John Textor and Eagle Football might be on the verge of selling their 43% stake in Crystal Palace. A consortium that includes Jimmy Butler is expected to offer in excess of $200 million. This would also alleviate UEFA concerns about Palace’s participation in the Europa League. UEFA rules prohibit multi-club owners from sending multiple teams and Eagle also owns a majority stake in Lyon, which qualified on their league finish. The other Palace partners met with UEFA last week and noted that Eagle/Textor doesn’t have control/influence at Palace.
 
Club World Cup is drawing mixed reviews. Some have enjoyed the football, some have not. Watched much of the first couple of days (yes, I added Dazn for the occasion) and was less than impressed with most of the matches.
Went to the PSG/Botafogo match at the Rose Bowl last night. Just over 53,000, well below the capacity (between 89,000 and 92,000 in capacity, depending on your source). PSG rested most of their regulars at the start (though several more joined the action ten minutes into the second half) and were beaten 1-0 on a well-taken goal. As I pointed out to my granddaughter, though, the lack of experience of their second-choice center back pairing showed in the goal. And the matches clearly mean more to South American fans compared to European sides. So, if you've got undermotivated European teams competing, are you watching a true competition? I don't know but it appears not.
 
I ended up not going to the Juve match in DC, the weather was awful for most of the day and it was about an hour drive. I watched most of Costa Rica/Dominican Republic in the CONCACAF Gokd Cup, played in front of immediate family only at Jerry World. Neither team played well at all. The crowd filled in later, El Tri was game 2 of the doubleheader.
 
Nottingham Forest signed Nuno Espirto Santo to a 3 year extension, ripping up his current deal which would have expired next summer. The new deal expires in 2028. They’re playing in Europe for the first time in 30 years but are still unsure of which competition. They’re supposed to play in the Conference League but could still end up in the Europa League, depending on how Crystal Palace’s joint ownership breach is resolved.
 
andyt said:
I ended up not going to the Juve match in DC, the weather was awful for most of the day and it was about an hour drive. I watched most of Costa Rica/Dominican Republic in the CONCACAF Gokd Cup, played in front of immediate family only at Jerry World. Neither team played well at all. The crowd filled in later, El Tri was game 2 of the doubleheader.
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I get the sense that the ticket buying public is largely disinterested in both the Club World Cup and the Gold Cup. It's unfortunate that they're happening at the same time, which obviously doesn't help ... and that the Club WC is happening the middle of the MLS season so those fans are less that thrilled with the interruptions and thus less likely to go to games as neutrals. In the end though, I just feel like it's hard to get too pumped for tournaments that ultimately don't mean anything this close to the World Cup coming to the US.
 
The Athletic is reporting that John Textor has agreed to sell Eagle Football’s 43% stake in Crystal Palace to New York Jets owner Woody Johnson. The league most approve the deal and Johnson will have to pass the owner’s and director’s test. Palace can try to use the pending sale to gain UEFA approval to play in the Europa League, which still under discussion. Eagle Football’s owns a majority stake in Lyon, which has also qualified and UEFA rules prevent multi-club owners in the same competition. Palace has contended that Textor does not have “decisive influence”.

Johnson tried to buy Chelsea in 2002. He’s owned the Jets since 2000. He was also the US Ambassador to England from 2017-21.

Edit: reports are that the deal is for $254 million. Certainly less than what Chelsea would have cost.
 
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I saw that. Bad news for Palace fans, as Johnson is notoriously ... umm ... flaky. Hopefully he keeps his kids away from FIFA on their XBox so they won't start chipping in opinions based on video game rankings.
 
jeffbear said:
I saw that. Bad news for Palace fans, as Johnson is notoriously ... umm ... flaky. Hopefully he keeps his kids away from FIFA on their XBox so they won't start chipping in opinions based on video game rankings.
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I guess it depends on whether the other owners let him exert control or trump his 43% with their 57%. And whether he ultimately tries to buy the other owners out. If either come to fruition, Palace fans should prepare themselves for relegation scraps every year.
 
Lyon was administratively relegated to Ligue 2. They were provisionally relegated in November following a review of their finances. The Direction Nationale du Controle de Gestion, which oversees finances of French football said their financial condition did not satisfactorily improve. Lyon is appealing based on the improvement of their financial situation imoreved after majority owner Eagle Football sold their 43% stake in Crystal Palace, which has not been approved yet. Eagle Football owns a 77% stake in Lyon.

The DNCG relegated Bordeaux 2 divisions last year to the 4th tier and semi-pro status. Sochaux was relegated 2 divisions in 2023.
 
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