Woody Johnson owns the NFL’s New York Jets, and was the US ambassador to the UK from 2017 to 2021.Johnson has bought a 43% stake in Crystal Palace of the English Premier League for a reported quantity of $254 million.This has opened the door for Crystal Palace to play within the Europa League subsequent season, as they couldn’t earlier than, on account of former proprietor John Textor already proudly owning Lyon, who’re additionally collaborating.
Woody Johnson is a profitable businessman, first because the inheritor of Robert Wooden Johnson I, who established the Johnson and Johnson pharmaceutical firm. Johnson has additionally been the proprietor of the NFL’s New York Jets since January 2000.
Johnson is now entering into the soccer enterprise. He bought a 43% stake of Crystal Palace within the English Premier League. This opens the door for Palace to now play within the Europa League subsequent season.
Johnson Pays $254 Million for 43% Stake in Crystal Palace
The information was introduced on Monday, June 23, by numerous shops.
Johnson made the acquisition of $254 million by taking on the shares of fellow American businessman John Textor, who purchased his shares in August 2021 by Eagle Soccer Holdings. The transfer isn’t but official because the deal needs to be authorised by the Premier League. Johnson additionally has to move the Proprietor’s and Administrators’ Check. Nonetheless, Crystal Palace doesn’t appear to assume he’ll have an issue in doing so.
It could’t damage that Johnson was the US ambassador to the UK from 2017 to 2021, beneath President Donald Trump. Johnson has been the proprietor of the Jets for the higher a part of 25 years, albeit, with little success.
The Jets haven’t been to the NFL playoffs since 2010, and sure gained’t be close to the highest of the Tremendous Bowl odds anytime quickly. They did go to back-to-back AFC championship video games in 2009 and 2010, shedding street video games at Indianapolis and Pittsburgh, respectively.
Nonetheless, the acquisition does make room for Palace to play European soccer for the primary time of their 119 years of existence!
Does This Imply Crystal Palace Can Play within the Europa League?
Palace gained their first main trophy by upsetting Manchester Metropolis 1-0 within the FA Cup in Might 2025. FA Cup remaining odds had Palace as an enormous underdog, however they performed an unimaginable match to qualify for the Europa League subsequent season.
Nonetheless, they have been in bother of lacking out on the competitors. UEFA guidelines state:
“Nobody might concurrently be concerned, both immediately or not directly, in any capability in any way within the administration, administration and/or sporting efficiency of a couple of membership collaborating in a UEFA membership competitors.”
Merely put, nobody can personal majority shares in a number of golf equipment in a contest. Textor owns majority shares in French membership Lyon, which can also be within the Europa League. Palace has been making an attempt to plead their case behind the scenes. But when the take care of Johnson is authorised, that may enhance their case.
Nothing is about in stone but, and there’ll certainly be loads of conferences between Johnson, Textor, the Premier League, and UEFA. However qualification for the Europa League has already began within the decrease phases, and the league section begins on August 29. I’d financial institution on an answer coming earlier than later, a technique or one other!
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