Olympique Lyonnais are officially heading to Ligue 2, following an administrative relegation. But despite the dramatic fall, club owner John Textor remains hopeful.
On Friday, OL announced a financial settlement with UEFA, a key step in maintaining eligibility for next season’s Europa League. As part of the deal, the club has been fined €50 million, with €12.5M to be paid immediately. The remaining €37.5M will be waived if OL hits strict financial targets set by UEFA.
Europa League still on the table… for now
The French club must now convince the DNCG, the French football watchdog, to reverse the relegation. Failure would not only leave OL in Ligue 2, but also lead to automatic exclusion from the Europa League.
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Lyon’s wage bill will also need to be capped as part of the agreement.
Textor remains confident
Despite the grim scenario, Textor took to Instagram to express optimism: “We have successfully passed UEFA’s financial sustainability review and are now authorized to compete in the Europa League for the second consecutive year.”
He admitted, however, that the final verdict rests with French authorities: “We still need to meet French requirements, but we are financially viable and well prepared for the future.”
The coming days will be pivotal for OL’s European hopes — and their long-term survival.
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