Olympique Lyon were saved from relegation to Ligue 2 last week, and that moment has prompted John Textor to speak out. The former president and current shareholder of Les Gones has criticized the 'subjective' process of the DNCG, the body that oversees club finances in France.
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Just a few weeks ago, Olympique Lyonnais found itself in the eye of a storm when the DNCG France’s financial watchdog for professional football made the shocking decision to administratively relegate the club to Ligue 2.
The ruling sent shockwaves through French football, given Lyon’s stature, history, and growing ambitions under its current ownership. While panic may have gripped the fanbase and media, John Textor, the club’s former president and current minority shareholder, remained calm. For him, the ruling lacked substance a temporary obstacle he believed would inevitably be overturned.
That belief was justified when the DNCG reversed its decision last week, after Lyon submitted updated financial documentation showing that the club was indeed in a stable financial position. Crucially, part of the defense rested on Textor’s sale of his shares in Crystal Palace, which freed up significant funds within Eagle Football Group the holding company through which he owns multiple clubs, including Lyon.
Speaking in an interview with talkSPORT, Textor expressed frustration and disbelief at the initial decision. “It was predicted that hundreds of millions in additional funds would be freed up through the sale of my shares in Crystal Palace how could Lyon be relegated in that case?” he asked rhetorically. To him, the DNCG’s decision was not just incorrect, but fundamentally flawed in its reasoning.
Textor didn’t stop there. He launched a scathing critique of the DNCG’s operating model, describing it as opaque, inconsistent, and overly rigid. “It’s a very subjective process, not black and white,” he stated. “They literally take your incoming and outgoing transfer revenue and say it has to be zero.” The remark highlights a broader concern shared by several club owners in France that the DNCG’s calculations are simplistic and don’t always reflect the true financial health or long-term stability of a football organization.
The American businessman, who made his fortune in tech and media before turning to football investment, sees himself as a reformist figure in European football. “I’m trying to be a driver of change,” he said, positioning his vision for Lyon and Eagle Football as part of a broader challenge to outdated governance models. But he also admitted that bringing change to France’s football system may be beyond his current reach. “I think the system in France doesn’t work,” he added. “In the Premier League, there are clear and precise rules. But I don’t think I’m the right person right now to bring about this reform. So maybe the problem lies with me.”
Textor’s remarks reflect the growing friction between foreign investors and traditional football governance structures in France. While clubs like Paris Saint-Germain operate with the backing of enormous capital, other clubs even storied ones like Lyon are finding themselves tangled in administrative red tape that makes long-term planning extremely difficult.
Though Textor has stepped down as Lyon’s president, he remains invested in the club’s future. His role may now be more in the background, but he is still a key player in shaping the club’s strategic direction through his shareholding in Eagle Football. The presidency has since been handed to Michele Kang, an American businesswoman who is also the controlling owner of the Washington Spirit in the NWSL and part of the growing wave of female executives rising in the football world.
Kang’s appointment signals a fresh approach to Lyon’s governance. She is expected to prioritize financial stability and long-term sustainability, particularly as the club looks to bounce back from a turbulent few seasons. Lyon, once a dominant force in French football, finished sixth in Ligue 1 last season a result that fell short of expectations and highlighted the need for deeper structural changes.
Under Kang’s leadership, the club will aim to strengthen its position both domestically and in Europe, while navigating the financial frameworks imposed by French authorities. With Textor still involved behind the scenes and Kang at the forefront, Lyon now faces a pivotal period in which bold vision must meet regulatory compliance.
The DNCG's reversal may have kept Lyon in Ligue 1 for now, but the episode has sparked broader questions about the future of French football governance and whether it can evolve quickly enough to accommodate the ambitions of modern investors while safeguarding financial integrity.
Updated: 04:27, 12 Jul 2025
