Unprecedented earthquake in France with epicenter in the Olympic of Lyonseven times champion of the Ligue 1 and one of the historical clubs of the country, which has been administratively decreased to the Ligue 2 By decision of the DNCG (National Directorate of Control Management), Financial Control Agency for Professional Soccer in the neighboring country. The measure, which could still be appealed, has generated a strong impact on the European scenario and has evidenced the contrast to the situation in the Liga of Javier Thebeswhere clubs like the Barça They accumulate debts much larger than those of the Lyon without having suffered similar sanctions in recent years.
The DNCG He has kept his position firm after meeting this Tuesday for more than two hours with the owner of the Lyonthe American businessman John Weaver. Despite the allegations presented, the agency has not been convinced of the economic viability of the club, which recognized a debt of 505.1 million euros and presented a 90 million deficit In the last exercise. The sanction, which had already been announced provisionally in November, has become official unless the club manages to reverse it by appeal.
He Olympic of Lyonwhich did not descend since the 1988/89 season, lives its worst institutional and economic crisis in more than three decades. Although the club has managed to partially reduce its debt through important sales, such as Ryan Cherki to Manchester City for 42.5 million or the transfer of players such as Benrahma, Caqueret, Gift Orban y Lopesthe DNCG It has considered the economic guarantees presented insufficient.
The administrative decrease of Lyon has been executed despite the fact that the club managed to overcome an earlier sanction of the FIFA for a pending debt of just 2,000 euros. The LFP (French Professional Soccer League) confirmed this Tuesday the resolution: “After research on the club's situation for the 2025/26 season, the Professional Club Control Commission has made the decision to descend to the Olympique de Lyon to the Ligue 2 Championship.”
The statement of Lyon It hasn't taken long to arrive. The entity considers “incomprehensible” the decision made by the DNCG And he confirms that he will submit an appeal: «In recent months, we have worked closely with the DNCG, complying with all its requests with capital investments greater than the required amounts. Thanks to the capital contributions of our shareholders and the sale of Crystal Palace, our Treasury has improved significantly and we have more than enough resources for the 2025/26 season. We sincerely do not understand how an administrative decision could relegate such a great French club ».
Contrast with Barça, Tebas and Lyon
The situation of Lyondescended by its continuous financial lack of control, contrasts with that of the Barça in the Liga. It should be remembered that the Catalan club, for example, closed the 2022-23 exercise with a debt of more than 1,000 million euros and has resorted to emergency operations such as the so-called economic 'levers' of Joan Laportafollowing competing in the highest category without sports sanctions.
The financial control model of the Ligaled by Javier Thebeshas been widely criticized for its permissiveness with certain clubs, such as the Barça and that now contrasts with the Lyonwhat has opened a debate on the effectiveness of supervision agencies in European football and the double measure of measurement of these, which depend on which club infringes its rules.
