Lyon’s relegation to Ligue 2 has sent a ‘proper earthquake’ through French football and there’s only one man to blame.
The French giants’ fate was announced on Tuesday, having been provisionally relegated by the DNGC in November due to their poor finances.
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The DNGC’s ruling came after Eagle Football Group, which owns 77 per cent of Lyon, announced eye-watering debts of £422million last October.
At the helm of Eagle Football Group is John Textor, who also owns 43 per cent of Crystal Palace, although he is set to sell his stake to New York Jets co-owner Woody Johnson.
Textor bought the club in 2022 from French businessman Jean-Michel Aulas, who had owned the club since 1987.
But under Textor’s ownership, Lyon have endured financial difficulties that has culminated in the club sinking to the second tier for the first time in 36 years.
It’s why French football expert Julien Laurens delivered a scathing analysis of Textor on talkSPORT’s The Sports Bar.
“Lyon were a powerhouse not just in French football but in European football as well,” Laurens said.
“But since John Textor arrived and took over, it’s been an absolute disgrace the way he ran that club into the ground to the point they’ve been relegated because your debts are so high and you can’t actually offer a proper plan to just deal with it and deal with the money you’re losing season after season when you sack managers, you employ wrong people, when you sack the director of football, all of that.”
Laurens noted Lyon will appeal the verdict, which they have already announced and as a result has frozen their relegation.
“But even just now, this is a proper earthquake in French football,” Laurens said.
Lyon attempted to boost their finances through the summer sale of superstar winger Rayan Cherki to Manchester City for £30m.
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But, evidently, the seven-time Ligue 1 winners needed to do far more than sell the electric winger to move out of the red.
“Again, they will appeal,” Laurens said.
“So they might find another way, maybe new investors, a bit of money.
“But for now, it’s a club in disarray.”
Although it is the darkest of hours for Lyon, Palace stand to be major beneficiaries should the club’s relegation be finalised.
The Eagles’ participation in next season’s Europa League was plunged into doubt due to UEFA’s multi-club ownership rules, which prevent teams who share the same owner competing in the same European competition.
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Lyon qualified for the Europa League by finishing sixth in Ligue 1 while Palace booked their spot via a stunning FA Cup upset over Manchester City.
Palace had been locked in talks with UEFA to prove Textor has no influence at the club despite his 43 per cent stake.
But the American’s sale of his shares to Johnson along with Lyon’s relegation provides a major boost for Palace in their Europa League.
However, it hasn’t all been good news for Palace as talkSPORT understands Eagles skipper Marc Guehi is prepared to run down his contract and leave on a free transfer next summer.
Liverpool, Newcastle and Tottenham have kept tabs on the England international.
