UEFA plot ownership rule change that could have major impact on Premier League sides

(Image: NurPhoto, NurPhoto via Getty Images)

UEFA may alter rules regarding multi-club ownership which could majorly impact Chelsea and Crystal Palace . The South London team were due to compete in the Europa League this season after their FA Cup victory.

However, due to John Textor's involvement with both Palace and French side Lyon, Palace were expelled from the competition and relegated to the Conference League, with Nottingham Forest taking their spot.

The Eagles could be left seething with recent suggestions that UEFA are contemplating a rule change. As reported by The Guardian , it appears that European football's governing body may extend the 1 March deadline for clubs to sort out any multi-club issues.

Under the proposed changes, clubs would still have until the original deadline to highlight any problems, but would be granted extra time to resolve them. It's suggested that the new deadline could be at the beginning of June, just before the qualifying rounds for the Europa League and Conference League kick off.

Clubs will still need to inform UEFA of any potential conflicts before the initial deadline, with failure to do so still viewed as a violation of the rules. This minor adjustment was discussed at the newly-established European Football Clubs meeting in Rome last week.

Steve Parish was furious at UEFA's decision to demote Crystal Palace to the Conference League (Image: Getty Images)

Steve Parish , the chairman of Crystal Palace, has already called for a change in regulations after his club's ban was upheld. Speaking to Sky Sports, he said: "It will change. Nobody's going to stick with this rule. It's a crazy rule. I don't understand why the panel have come to the conclusion they've come to.

"We've proved to them beyond all reasonable doubt that John didn't have decisive influence over anything to do with the football club, yet still they've come up with this decision, which seems incongruous."

He further added: "Either you have these multi-clubs or you ban them. They need to find a way through this. But notwithstanding that, we were never part of one.

"As everybody knows my position on them, I don't think they're generally the right thing to do. Other people disagree with me. That's fine. But we have nothing to do with them.

"There's a real crossroads here for UEFA to look at. Do they intervene and do the right thing? Which is what I think they should do, which is what I think they want to do.

"Or do they let this process play out and see probably one of the greatest injustices that have ever happened in European football?"

Away from Crystal Palace, Chelsea will also be keeping a close eye on any potential rule change, with their owners BlueCo also custodians of French side Strasbourg.