Olympique Lyonnais, the French football club, is on the brink of demotion to Ligue 2, with their financial struggles posing a serious threat to their continued success in the top tier.
In addition to this, Lyon has been slapped with a transfer ban, prohibiting them from signing new players in the upcoming January transfer window.
The root of the problem lies with Lyon’s owner, John Textor, who is also heavily invested in Crystal Palace and Botafogo. Recent revelations of a staggering £422 million debt within his Eagle Football Group have sparked concerns over the viability of his football-related ventures.
The decision was officially announced by the DNGC (Direction Nationale du Contrôle de Gestion), the governing body responsible for monitoring the financial health of French professional football clubs, on Friday.
To ensure Lyon’s financial recovery, they will be subjected to heightened scrutiny over their payroll and financial operations, with the DNGC closely monitoring their activities.
With a rich history that includes seven league titles, Lyon is currently languishing in fifth place in Ligue 1 and ninth in the Europa League standings. The club’s former dominance is now eclipsed by the harsh reality of needing to sell several key players in the transfer window to prevent demotion and stabilize their finances.
Efforts are underway to address the situation, with rumors suggesting Textor may be willing to consider selling his stake in Crystal Palace or offloading players from Botafogo to alleviate the financial burden. With time running out, Lyon’s focus is on restoring their financial stability and maintaining their place in Ligue 1.
