It is a real earthquake for French football. This Tuesday evening, June 24, John Textor and the director of football Michael Gerlinger certainly defended the Lyonnais dossier before the DNCG, but the financial gendarme confirmed the administrative demotion pronounced as a conservatory on November 15, 2024, under article 11 of his regulation. The body has, in fact, deemed insufficient the guarantees presented despite the repeated insurance of the American owner, so that Olympique Lyonnais is officially sent to Ligue 2 – a first since 1989.
In a statement published in the process, the Rhone club told him “Take note of an incomprehensible decision” And announces an immediate call, while the prospect of seeing the Stade de Reims drafted in Ligue 1 already plane in the summer. Before that, OL was able to count on an unexpected support to say the least. Indeed, despite globally tense relations between John Textor and Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, the capital's club decided to help Lyon by adjusting the entire transfer of Bradley Barcola. A strong gesture that ultimately proved insufficient.
PSG has paid the entire transfer of Bradley Barcola
As indicated by ParisTeam And Franceinfoand confirmed this Thursday by RMC Sportthe new European champions have thus come to the aid of OL thanks to what is called “factoring”, namely liquidity in advance. As a reminder, Barcola joined the Light City in the summer of 2023 as part of an operation estimated at 45 million euros (+ 5 million euros). Instead of smoothing the payment of this transfer to several seasons – which PSG was completely entitled to do – the direction of the Red and Blue finally paid the entire transfer.
A strong act allowing OL to improve its accounts with the DNCG. However, the club chaired by John Textor was finally sanctioned with an administrative relegation and now activates before appealing to the commission of appeal of the financial gendarme. As a reminder, if the first instance decision is confirmed, Olympique Lyonnais will then be able to appear before the CNOSF and then against the FFF Comex. One thing is certain, Paris will have done everything possible to save one of the biggest French clubs…
