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Lyon Relegated to Second-Tier Ligue 2 by French Football's Financial Watchdog
RHÔNE, AUVERGNE-RHÔNE-ALPES, FRANCE, JUN 24 – Olympique Lyon faces relegation due to debts exceeding €422 million despite player sales and capital injections, with the club immediately appealing the financial watchdog's ruling.
- Olympique Lyonnais was officially relegated to Ligue 2 on Tuesday, 24 June 2025, by the financial watchdog DNCG following an audit.
- The relegation resulted from unresolved multimillion-dollar debts and failed attempts to satisfy the DNCG's financial requirements despite provisional demotion last November.
- The club raised substantial funds including selling players like Rayan Cherki to Manchester City, and owner John Textor sold a large Crystal Palace stake to improve liquidity.
- Textor highlighted that the club's financial situation has strengthened considerably due to shareholder investments and the transfer of Crystal Palace, but he described the DNCG's ruling as baffling.
- Lyon plans to file an immediate appeal that could determine if the club retains its place in Ligue 1, while Stade de Reims remains on standby to take their position.
260 Articles
260 Articles
The Killeen Daily Herald
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French football lives one of its most unexpected and painful chapters. Lyon Olympic, seven times champion of the Ligue 1, has been officially descended into the Second Division by the National Directorate of Control Management (DNCG), an agency responsible for the financial surveillance of clubs in France. The cause: an economic debt that exceeds 586 million dollars.The decision shakes the country and the European football. Lyon, founded in 1950…
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In a dramatic turn to French football, Olympique Lyon one of the nation’s most historic clubs has been sent to the ‘poubelle’ and relegated to Ligue 2 not because of their performance (or lack of) on the pitch, but due to financial irregularities. Despite finishing sixth in Ligue 1 in the 2024–2025 season and even securing a spot in the Europa League, the DNCG (Direction Nationale du Contrôle de… Source
French giants Olympique Lyon relegated to Ligue 2
French football club Lyon has been relegated to Ligue 2 due to ongoing financial difficulties. Lyon's demotion was confirmed by the DNGC, the French body responsible for overseeing the financial health of professional football clubs. Despite meetings between Lyon officials, including owner John Textor, and the DNGC on June 24, the club was unable to convince the body that their financial situation had sufficiently improved to reverse the decisio…
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