Onze Mondial
@OnzeMondialJean-Michel Aulas, the legendary former president of OL who sold the club gone to John Textor, has obviously decided to get involved concretely to save Olympique Lyonnais.
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DNCG Relegates Lyon Over Finances; Club Plans Appeal
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French football’s financial watchdog, the Direction Nationale du Contrôle de Gestion, has ordered the administrative relegation of seven-time champions Olympique Lyonnais to Ligue 2 for the 2025-26 campaign after an audit found the club’s finances insufficient.
The ruling confirms a provisional demotion imposed in November and follows months of scrutiny that uncovered debt of about £422 million. Although owner John Textor recently raised funds by off-loading a 43 % stake in Crystal Palace and several players, the DNCG said the measures did not guarantee the club’s solvency.
Lyon branded the decision “incomprehensible” and said it will appeal at a hearing scheduled for 10 July. According to documentation seen by L’Équipe, the club must inject at least €100 million in cash and provide a further €100 million in guarantees to overturn the sanction. Newly appointed chairwoman Michele Kang will lead the appeal alongside general manager Michael Gerlinger.
If the decision stands, Stade de Reims would retain a place in Ligue 1, and Lyon—who finished sixth last season and qualified for the Europa League—would face their first spell in the second tier since 1989. Former long-time president Jean-Michel Aulas called the outcome “a terrible shock” and pledged to help the club restore its top-flight status.
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