Palace await Euro fate as Lyon win relegation appeal

Lyon will play in Ligue 1 next season after the French side won their appeal against relegation.

French football authorities demoted the seven-time champions into Ligue 2 last month because of their poor financial state.

But that decision has now been overturned, and could affect Crystal Palace's chances of playing in the Europa League next season as Lyon have also qualified for the competition.

A Lyon statement said: "Olympique Lyonnais welcomes the decision to keep the club in Ligue 1. OL thanks the appeal committee for having recognised the ambition of the club's new management, determined to ensure serious management in the future.

"Today's decision is the first step in restoring confidence in Olympique Lyonnais. We can now focus our attention on sporting goals, fully preparing for next season."

The uncertainty over Palace's European spot for next season stems from a perceived breach of Uefa's multi-club ownership rules.

Eagle Football Holdings - owned by American businessman John Textor - is at the centre of the case.

The company currently owns stakes in Palace and Lyon, with Uefa rules stating clubs cannot compete in the same European competition if they are owned to a certain threshold of influence by the same person or entity.

FA Cup winners Palace have argued Textor does not hold any decisive influence, but Uefa are yet to rule over whether they accept the Premier League side's defence.

Had Lyon's relegation been upheld, they had agreed with Uefa to be excluded from the Europa League, clearing the way for Palace to play in the competition.