Fall of OL: What Is the DNCG Really Accusing the Lyon Club Of?

The fall of a French football giant under financial scrutiny

In a stunning turn of events, Olympique Lyonnais — seven-time Ligue 1 champion and former Champions League regular — has been relegated to Ligue 2 by the DNCG (French football’s financial watchdog) due to major concerns over the club’s financial health.

📉 What Led to This Drastic Decision?

In November 2024, the DNCG handed Lyon a provisional relegation and banned the club from recruiting due to a projected financial shortfall of nearly €175 million. The DNCG demanded substantial financial guarantees — real cash or solid contractual commitments — to ensure the club’s short-term viability.

Despite multiple reassurances and promises, the financial plan presented by the club, led by American businessman John Textor through his Eagle Football group, was deemed unrealistic or insufficient.

⚠️ What Exactly Was the DNCG Asking For?

Lyon was estimated to have debts ranging from €463 million to over €500 million.
The club had to inject €100M to €200M in confirmed liquidity to avoid administrative relegation.
The DNCG insisted on guarantees deposited directly into OL’s professional structure — not future sales or vague investor promises.

💼 The John Textor Gamble

John Textor had pledged:

€75M by the end of 2024
An additional €100M in early 2025

By January 2025, Lyon had reportedly injected €83M.
By June, Textor claimed to have met all requirements, raising €223M through sales and capital contributions.

Despite this, the DNCG seemed unconvinced by the timing and structure of the funds, still seeing risk in Lyon’s finances and ownership model.

🧾 Timeline of the Crisis

Date	Event
Nov 15, 2024	DNCG imposes provisional relegation; ~€175M gap identified.
Jan 10, 2025	Appeal hearing at the French Football Federation.
Jan–May 2025	Multiple financial injections from Eagle Football.
June 2025	Textor claims €223M raised; DNCG ruling still awaited.

📌 What Does the DNCG Actually Do?

The DNCG monitors all French professional football clubs, ensuring that spending is matched by actual income or tangible guarantees. Clubs that cannot demonstrate financial solvency may face sanctions, including transfer bans, wage bill restrictions, and relegation — regardless of on-pitch results.

🗣️ A Fair Call or Too Harsh?

Textor has publicly criticized the DNCG’s decisions as biased, but the DNCG’s president, Jean‑Marc Mickeler, maintains the club was heard thoroughly and failed to prove financial viability with concrete documentation.

The case underlines the clash between modern football investment models and regulatory frameworks, especially in France where club stability outweighs investor reputation.