The sixth place in the league, a ticket to the Europa League, recently attracted investments — and a direct relegation to the second tier of the league. This was reported by Euro-football.ru.
French football has opened a new genre: bureaucratic knockout. And in this process, "Lyon" became the first victim.
Before our eyes, one of the country's most trophy-winning clubs is being relegated not for sporting reasons, but for administrative ones. Welcome to the administrative world. DNCG strictly monitors the law The National Directorate of Management Control (DNCG) — this name almost resembles the abbreviation of the anti-corruption committee from the era of Jacques Chirac.
But this is not a special service, but an even more frightening organization. Today they can suddenly cancel your team's history.
"Lyon" is not their first major target, but it is one of the most scandalous. At the meeting on June 25, despite club owner John Textor's solemn speech, the board made a decision: relegation to League 2. The reason — violations in financial reports.
In simple bureaucratic terms, the cash is empty, promises remain on paper, and DNCG is tired of hearing explanations about "liquidity flow." "Lyon" under Textor: how not to run a business American John Textor is a personality in football akin to "Elon Musk." Instead of a rocket, he manages clubs: "Botafogo" in Brazil, "Molenbeek" in Belgium, a stake in "Crystal Palace" in England, and of course "Olympique Lyon." The model is a multi-club empire like City Group.
In reality — more of a comedy: "Lyon's" money went to strengthen "Botafogo," then vice versa. The calculations resemble a market near "Parc Olympique Lyon": "you give me one player, I give you another."
But DNCG does not like currency exchanges. They demand real, calculated figures. After "Lyon's" debts exceeded 508 million euros, Textor became a living symbol of populism in management, not an investor.
Even selling 46 percent of "Crystal Palace" shares for 200 million euros was not enough. Football is at stake Yes, "Lyon" sold Ryan Cherki to "City" for 36.5 million euros. Yes, they sent away half of the stars.
Yes, they laid off hundreds of employees. However, the final verdict is that poor management can ruin even the wealthy.
The club tried to reduce the wage bill, sell assets, even give away the women's team. But when accused of systemic violations, the transfer of Malick Fofana for 40 million euros or selling Benrahma to Saudi Arabia does not help. The problem is that every step of "Lyon" looked like panic rather than strategy.
As if they were trying to extinguish a fire with gasoline. Even the 2238 euro fine for irregular transfers imposed by FIFA was a small but warning signal. What will happen now? Officially, "Lyon" is still a participant in the Europa League.
But to be honest, if DNCG is not lenient and the appeal fails, participation in European cups will remain just a memory. UEFA is looking at the club with suspicion: debts, transfer bans, violations of licensing conditions. Can you play in League 2 and participate in the Europa League?
Yes, if you are a Sisyphus of football with three lawyers and chaotic accounting. The official statement says, "We find DNCG's decision incomprehensible." And here "Lyon" is stating the truth for the first time in a long while. Yes, it is incomprehensible: how can a team that played in European cups for two years become financially bankrupt?
How can everything be done "correctly" and still end up in trouble? And it is also incomprehensible that a club that has won League 1 seven times is now closer to games with "Red Star" than to "PSG." After "Bordeaux," now "Lyon."
DNCG does not joke. A new paradigm is forming in French football: if you want to play, learn to balance the books. If anyone thinks everything will pass, they should look at Textor's face.
There is no longer a smile on his face. He has realized for the first time that football in Europe is not a show, but a matter related to accounting. "Lyon" is still fighting.
But regardless of how the appeal ends, the war has already taken place. Fiercely, with ambitions shattered. Author: Arman Tigranyants
