John Textor comes out of silence! Held responsible for the crisis crossed by OL in recent weeks, the now former president of the Rhone club has granted an interview to the British media Talk Sport during which he returned to the DNCG's initial decision to demot the Lyonnais in Ligue 2.
During the interview, which looked more like a settling of scores, John Textor has strongly criticized the operating mode of the financial gendarme of French football, which, according to him, is much more picky than that of UEFA: “I think people have to understand the DNCG. You have never seen a situation in which a club goes to an audience and has significant liquidity, important incoming cash flows. In fact, it is even intended that there will be a few hundred additional million from the sale of (Crystal) Palace. How can a club like this one be relegated to reasons of sustainability? The same week, we spent the UEFA sustainability assessment, which is very complete and extremely professional. The answer is that the DNCG process is very subjective. It's not all black or all white. They will literally take your income from players and transfers and will say: 'Well, it must be zero “.
The American businessman then expressed his misunderstanding since, according to him, the club had enough liquidity to guarantee its viability. “We generate $ 100 million (just over € 85 million, editor's note) per year of player sales. However, according to their sustainability model, they must project themselves into the future as if there were no sale of players. But a $ 70 million contract (around € 60 million, editor's note) from the term of an intangible asset did not really like them. They said, “$ 70 million, throwing away. “Then” 100 million dollars in players' sales, to throw. But there was a suggestion. 10 million dollars (€ 8.5 million) per month from our multi-club cash flows that come from Botafogo and other places. $ 130 million (€ 111 million, Editor's note) at OL in the past 12 months, to throw. »»
John Textor, a ” issue »For the DNCG?
John Textor also says that the DNCG goal was not to directly sanction Olympique Lyonnais but to dismiss it. “” I think I am largely the problem. I try to be a change agent. I think governance in France does not work (…) The league is constantly accused of corruption. There was a complaint against the president. The French Football Federation is trying to take control, which is a serious mistake. And I appear before several commissions and I say that I literally question the existence of the DNCG and its merits He said.
But why would the DNCG have taken part in the American? According to him, his desire to reform would not have liked the financial body of French football: ” So, if I speak of a new model, a reformist model where there would be no DNCG but clear and clear rules as in the Premier League, I am probably not the best placed to ask the support of this same DNCG. So yes, the problem is me. I was a disruptor, a reformer. Yes, the cowboy hat was funny, but not for them. »»
Despite his failure, John Textor is not ready to leave the world of football since he intends to buy the Championship club, Sheffield Wednesday.
