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Crystal Palace are expected to have to wait until the end of the month to find out if they are able to play in the 2025-26 Europa League, according to sources with knowledge of the process.

The Eagles hierarchy travelled to Switzerland on Tuesday to discuss with Uefa officials about their participation in the competition.

Uefa rules forbid individuals from having control of more than one club in the same competition to avoid conflicts of interest.

Eagle Football – the multi-club group owned by John Textor which includes a minority shareholding in Palace – owns a majority stake in Ligue 1 side Lyon, who have also qualified for next season’s competition.

Palace are arguing that Textor – who has repeatedly tried to sell his stake with the club – does not have decisive control.

League places are used to determine who gets to play in the competition and given the French side finished sixth, they get priority over Palace, who ended 12th in the Premier League.

Palace qualified for the Europa League by beating Manchester City to win the FA Cup.

Lyon finished sixth in the French top flight to initially gain a spot in the Conference League, but were promoted to the Europa League competition after Paris St-Germain – already qualified for the Champions League – won the Coupe de France.

Through Eagle Football, Textor – who initially invested £90m into Crystal Palace in 2021 – owns around 45% of the club and 90% of Lyon.

The American was appointed a director and joined co-owner Steve Parish, Josh Harris and David Blitzer on the board.

In January 2022, he invested in Brazilian club Botafogo and Belgian side RWD Molenbeek. Eagle Football still has controlling interests in both sides.

He became the owner of Lyon in June 2022.

Because Eagle Football has only has a 45% stake in Palace, the club is not part of the group’s multi-club organisation. Palace have not signed a player from any of those clubs, although Jake O’Brien, now at Everton, did move to Lyon from their academy.

Textor has tried to purchase a controlling stake in Palace in the past because it is thought he would prefer to have overall control of the club.

However, he has more recently tried to buy Everton and also sought a buyer for his Palace shares.

In an interview with the BBC last year, he said he does not run Palace – chairman and co-owner Parish does – although he can share his views.

He also conceded the pair disagree on their views over multi-club ownership.

Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis recently diluted his control at the club by placing his shares in a blind trust, when it looked like both Forest and Olympiakos – another club the Greek businessman owned – may both qualify for the Champions League.

But sources close to Eagle Football believe putting those Palace shares in a ‘blind trust’ is not an option because Textor and Eagle Football do not have decisive influence over the Selhurst Park outfit.

Angel Gomes from England is wanted by Marseille in a free transfer.

The 24-year-old, who won his first four senior starts under interim manager Lee Carsley last year, made the announcement in May that he would leave Lille when his contract expires this summer.

The Ligue 1 side is hopeful that they can secure his transfer in the near future, according to reports that discussions are moving in the right direction.

Gomes has made 134 appearances for Lille since making the switch from Manchester United in 2020, scoring 10 goals and contributing 19 assists.

Tottenham and West Ham were also interested in the midfielder.

Angel Gomes from England is wanted by Marseille in a free transfer.

The 24-year-old, who won his first four senior starts under interim manager Lee Carsley last year, made the announcement in May that he would leave Lille when his contract expires this summer.

The Ligue 1 side is hopeful that they can secure his transfer in the near future, according to reports that discussions are moving in the right direction.

Gomes has made 134 appearances for Lille since making the switch from Manchester United in 2020, scoring 10 goals and contributing 19 assists.

Tottenham and West Ham were also interested in the midfielder.

The Players’ Player of the Year for the 2024-25 United Rugby Championship is second row Leinster RG Snyman.

After leaving Irish rivals Munster, the 30-year-old lock helped Leo Cullen’s side reach the URC semi-finals. He has made a significant impact in his first campaign at Leinster.

The 16 URC teams’ captains and vice-captains have approved of the award, which was previously won by Leinster hooker Dan Sheehan and Munster flyhalf Jack Crowley.

Massimo Brunello, who had led the Italians to five victories, including affluent victories over Ulster and Edinburgh, was named coach of the season as determined by the league’s other coaches.

The winning team was the Scarlets’ fly-half Ioan Lloyd, who also won the golden boot, and Cardiff’s Harri Millard, who also won the trophy, named Tom Farrell as Munster’s playmaker of the year.

Top try-scorer: Carliff’s Harri Millard

Ruben van Heerden (Stormers) is the owner of the Tackle Machine.

Ironman: Carl McCartney’s Cam Winnett

Playmaker: Münster’s Tom Farrell

Cameron Hanekom (Bulls): Next-Gen player of the season

Sharks receive innovation awards

Deon Fourie (Stormers) is the try of the season.

Sacha Feinburg-Mngomezulu (Stormers) is South Africa’s URC player of the year.

Massimo Brunello (Zebre), the season’s coach

Player of the year: RG Snyman (Leinster)