The sentence fell this Wednesday in the middle of the afternoon, and all French football can finally breathe. At the end of an unbearable expectation and after weeks spent by the precipice, the DNCG appeal commission has informed its initial decision: Olympique Lyonnais is officially maintained in Ligue 1 for the 2025-2026 season. The disaster scenario of an administrative relegation, which could have led to the fall of a real institution, is dismissed. It is a “huge relief phew” for a club that has played its survival not on land, but in the financial behind the scenes and the bodies of the instances.
Lyon's reaction: relief and ambition
This maintenance was obtained from high struggle. It should be remembered that OL had been demoted in Ligue 2 by the DNCG on June 24. To reverse this verdict, the new management, led by President Michele Kang, had to lead a real race against the clock to meet the drastic requirements of the financial gendarme: find and guarantee nearly 200 million euros to prove the solidity of the project. This gave rise to an intense “part of poker” behind the scenes with the main creditor of the club, the American investment fund Ares, to bring together the necessary funds and present an impeccable file.
In the wake of the decision, the club expressed its satisfaction in an official statement.
“Olympique Lyonnais welcomes the decision (…) to maintain the club in Ligue 1,” Can we read. The club
“Thanks the appeal commission for recognizing the ambition of the new management”. The press release stresses that this decision is “the first step to restore confidence” and that the club can now
“Concentrate our attention on sporting goals”. A sober reaction that testifies to immense relief after weeks of existential crisis.
Maintaining OL, a puff of oxygen for Ligue 1
Maintained, but under surveillance
If OL is saved, everything is not settled. The DNCG has accompanied its maintenance of two sanctions which testify to the fragility of the situation: supervision of the wage bill and transfer allowances. Concretely, the club will not have completely free hands on the transfer market and its expenses in wages and compensation will be strictly controlled by the body. A necessary evil to ensure the sustainability of the club, which remains under close financial surveillance.
The main thing is except. One of the biggest French clubs, seven -time French champion, avoids a descent into hell who would have had disastrous consequences. The new direction led by Michele Kang won his first, by far the most important, battle. Even if the club will have to be cautious in its expenses, the page of the administrative crisis is turned. OL and its supporters can finally refocus on the essentials: the field and the preparation of the new season in Ligue 1.
