City Of London
Crystal Palace Holders Are Blocking Lyon Team Sale, Textor Says
Flares light up behind the goal during the UEFA Europa League Quarter Final Leg Two match between Olympique Lyon and West Ham United in Lyon, France.
Photographer: Rob Newell/Getty Images/CameraSportThis article is for subscribers only.
Olympique Lyonnais Groupe’s sale to John Textor’s Eagle Football Holdings LLC is being blocked by Crystal Palace investors in a highly unusual situation where one team is having sway over a deal in another country.
Textor described the opposition from other Crystal Palace shareholders in a statement released Friday by OL Groupe. He needs the Premier League’s approval to bring his stake in the London-based team into Eagle Football, as requested by the banks financing the deal. OL Groupe is giving Textor until Sunday to close its proposed purchase of the French football club.