greg . 2025-06-29 02:20:03

John Textor to remove himself from club management at Lyon as they try to stay in Ligue 1

American businessman John Textor plans to step back from the day-to-day management of Olympique Lyonnais following the club’s relegation to Ligue 2, which was confirmed after a meeting with French soccer’s financial watchdog (DNCG) this week.

Textor, who owns the French club across his Eagle Soccer Group, revealed his decision in an interview with Brazil’s TV Globo on Saturday, shortly before his Brazilian side Botafogo lost 1-0 to Palmeiras in the Club World Cup, saying he could have dealt better with French soccer politics.

Lyon’s demotion was provisionally announced by the DNCG in November due to financial irregularities and was confirmed on Tuesday.

Textor said the club would appeal versus the decision and that Lyon's financial position remained tough regardless the ruling.

"I will tell you that we're very well capitalised in France," Textor told TV Globo.

"It's clear that I've been much better on the pitch than managing France.

I have never been so good at the politics of France.

I think that's well known.

So the process is, for me, as an American capitalist, adjusting to that setup.

"Textor said his focus would shift towards broader responsibilities inside Eagle Soccer Group which also includes Botafogo and formerly included a 43% amount in English club Crystal Palace, sold earlier this week.

"I am going to spend a lot extra time focusing on Eagle Global, coming back frankly a bit extra to Botafogo," he said.

"I've got very good partners in the Eagle Soccer Group shareholders who are going to take a lead on dealing with few of the issues that I have frankly never been very good at dealing with.

"Regardless Lyon’s relegation, Textor highlighted the club’s recent achievements, with back-to-back qualifications for the Europa Competition, and reassured supporters over their financial stability.

"We’ve never been extra liquid in cash.

But there are things in the process I did that disappointed the governing stars there that we need to fix," Textor said.

"We did pass across the financial sustainability review with UEFA, which is quite a comprehensive process.

So the fact that we didn’t pass across France has extra to do with few of the specific elements that I brought to the table that I should have improved.

"Textor hinted at a potential acquisition in the United Kingdom to replace the Crystal Palace amount.

"We have our U.

K.

strategy where we need to look at who our new club is.

What are we going to acquire there? What's the partnership? Since it’s that collaboration between the clubs that’s been so successful for us," he said.