In football, the descent is usually associated with the strictly sports. But there are times when the results on the grass are not enough. Teams that have shone in competitions, which have excited their fans and that have even qualified for Europe, have ended up going down by a relentless rival such as the economy. The last example, shocking and recent, is that of Lyon Olympic. But your case is not unique. The history of football is full of clubs that, more than by goals, descended by figures.
Olympique de Lyon: from sixth place to the abyss
The Olympique de Lyon, one of the most laureate clubs in French football in recent decadesis the last to fall victim of the administrative decrease. Despite having finished sixth in Ligue 1 and having qualified to play European competition in the 2025-26 season, The club was officially notified by the Professional Club Control Commission of the LFP of its Ligue 2 descent.
“Within the framework of the review of the situation of clubs for sports season 2025-2026, The Commission has made the decision to descend to the Olympique de Lyon to the League 2 ”, prayed the official statement. The reasons, although not detailed in depth, focus on serious financial imbalances, accumulated debts and lack of guarantees to operate within the parameters required by the body.
El Olympique de Lyon.
To A club that dominated France in the 2000 with seven consecutive titles and that has been common in the Champions Leaguethe blow is very hard. One more show that, in modern football, it is not enough to win, we must manage.
Fiorentina: The fall of a giant in 2002
In 2002, the historic Italian club ACF Fiorentina lived one of the most tragic episodes in its history. After a series of disastrous economic efforts, the club accumulated debts that could not settle. The situation was so critical that The entity was declared in bankruptcy.
Mandragora, at the conference against Betis
Although he then recovered his identity and rapidly ascended from the C2 series, Fiorentina was the victim of a chaotic administration that left the city of Florence without her team for months. A paradigmatic example of how Italian football of the change of the century was dragged by financial imbalances.
Naples: The South Colossus also fell (2004)
Two years later, another Italian historic succumbed. The SSC Napoli, the club that Diego Armando Maradona ever led, was declared in financial failure in 2004. With a debt that exceeded 70 million euros, the club could not register in series B and had to restart its path from the series C.
De laurentiis, in a file image.
It was the businessman Aurelio de Laurentiis who rescued him, rebuilt and returned to the elite. But that administrative decrease made it clear that neither Maradona's aura could shield Naples of a reckless management.
Real Oviedo and Xerez CD: the Spanish drama
In Spain, Real Oviedo was one of the first cases of administrative decrease for economic reasons. In 2003, after not complying with economic requirements, he was descended to Third Division, dragged by non -payment and a serious institutional crisis.
La Rúa del Oviedo with its fans
Another painful case was the Xerez CD. After a brief step for the first division in the 2009-10 season, The Andalusian club descended administratively in 2014 to Third Divisionsuffocated by debts and unpaid. Since then, he has never managed to recover his place in professional football.
