Femi Fabunmi
Except a last minute miracle happens, French side, Olympique Lyonnais will ply its trade in the second division of the French ligue PM News has learnt.
Lyon have officially been relegated to Ligue 2 after a ruling by the DNCG, the financial watchdog for French football clubs.
The decision comes after a thorough review of the club’s financial situation, which the DNCG concluded did not meet the standards required to remain in Ligue 1.
Earlier this month, Lyon were warned that they faced relegation if they failed to make significant improvements to their finances. In response, the club’s owners, Eagle Football Group, took several major steps in an attempt to stabilize the situation.
These included selling John Textor’s stake in English Premier League side Crystal Palace and also selling the Lyon women’s team, one of the most successful in Europe.
The goal was to show that the club had enough financial backing to meet regulatory requirements.
Despite these efforts, the DNCG was not convinced that Lyon’s financial situation had improved enough.
This came as a surprise to many, especially after Lyon’s owner, John Textor, publicly expressed confidence in a positive outcome. Speaking to the press, Textor insisted that the club’s liquidity had improved and pointed to new shareholder investments and positive developments in their UEFA licensing process. He emphasized that fresh capital had been injected into the club and described the sale of Crystal Palace as a step that strengthened their financial position.
Nevertheless, the DNCG stood by its ruling and confirmed that Lyon would be relegated to the second division for the upcoming season. This marks a dramatic fall for one of France’s most storied football clubs, which has regularly competed in European tournaments and has a proud history in Ligue 1.
However, all hope is not lost. Lyon still have the option to appeal the decision, and they are expected to do so in the coming day I’ms. If the appeal is successful and they can provide convincing financial guarantees, there remains a chance that the club could avoid relegation. For now, though, Lyon are facing a very uncertain future.
