Following the revelations from Complément d’Enquête about the July 14th meeting at the French League, where Nasser Al-Khelaïfi reportedly called him a “cowboy”, John Textor seized the opportunity to respond with humor during the clash between Lyon and PSG.
A Playful Entrance
Just before his team’s warm-up, the OL owner made a notable entrance onto the Groupama Stadium pitch, sporting a beige cowboy hat. This was an unmistakable nod to his ongoing dispute with PSG’s president over broadcasting rights. Greeted with cheers from the home crowd, Textor waved to the stands before taking his seat—while anti-Al-Khelaïfi chants echoed in the stadium.
“Nothing Personal”
When questioned by DAZN, Textor downplayed the idea of a direct provocation toward Al-Khelaïfi:
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“I wore a hat because I was feeling confident, but I don’t see myself as a cowboy. We’ve had many discussions about TV rights, and I didn’t even know he called me that. A lot of people talked about it, but I don’t even know how to ride a horse. It was just for fun.”
He then clarified that his fight goes beyond his own club:
“This isn’t personal with Nasser Al-Khelaïfi. It’s about fairness in the league. I just want to remind everyone that we should all play by the same rules. I’m not just fighting for OL, but for Ligue 1 as a whole. Having the same winner for 20 years isn’t sustainable.”
PSG’s Response
After securing a 3-2 victory against Lyon, PSG didn’t miss the chance to fire back. On their official X (formerly Twitter) account, the club posted a simple yet sharp message: “Chapeau, messieurs”, followed by a cowboy emoji—a clear dig at Textor’s stunt.
