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French club Lyon have been demoted to Ligue 2 because of the poor state of their finances.

The club were provisionally demoted by the DNGC, the body which oversees the accounts of French professional football clubs, in November.

Lyon officials including owner John Textor, met with the DNGC on Tuesday but failed to convince the body that the club had sufficiently improved their financial situation to lift the punishment.

Last October, his Eagle Football Group, which owns a 77% stake in Lyon, announced debts of £422m.

In a statement, Lyon said the DNGC's decision was "incomprehensible" and confirmed they would appeal.

Lyon's relegation could prove significant to Crystal Palace's hopes of playing in the Europa League next season.

Their participation is currently in doubt because of Uefa rules, which prevent multiple teams under one multi-club ownership structure competing in the same European competition.

Textor owns stakes in both clubs although he agreed a deal to sell his 43% share in Palace on Monday.

Lyon baffled by decision

"With proven funds and sporting success that has earned us a place in European competition for two consecutive years, we sincerely do not understand how an administrative decision could relegate such a major French club," Lyon's statement said.

"We will appeal to demonstrate our ability to provide the necessary financial resources to guarantee OL's place in Ligue 1."

Seven-time French champions Lyon raised around £45m with the sales of Maxence Caqueret to Como in January and Rayan Cherki to Manchester City in June in an attempt to improve their finances.

High earners such as Alexandre Lacazette and Anthony Lopes have also been released.

Lyon have the right to appeal against the decision. Should it stand, Lyon will be replaced in the top flight by Reims, who were beaten in the relegation play-off by Metz.

Only five teams have lifted more French titles than Lyon's seven, which they won in successive seasons between 2002 and 2008.

The club reached the Champions League semi-finals as recently as 2020 and have not played in the second tier since 1989.

When the provisional punishment was handed down in November, Textor said that there was "no chance" the club would be relegated and reiterated his confidence before Tuesday's meeting.

"We have made a variety of investments in recent weeks," he said. "Everything is good financially."

Textor is also the largest shareholder of Brazilian club Botafogo and currently co-owner of Palace until his deal to sell his stake to New York Jets owner Woody Johnson is completed.

"Over the past few months, we have worked closely with the DNCG, fulfilling all of its requests with equity investments that exceeded the required amounts," Lyon's statement continued.

"Thanks to capital injections from our shareholders and the sale of Crystal Palace, our cash flow has significantly improved and we now have more than sufficient financial resources for the 2025-26 season."

Palace qualified for the Europa League by winning the FA Cup but Lyon also qualified by finishing sixth in Ligue 1. The French side's higher league finish means they would take a European spot at Palace's expense - should Uefa decide their multi-club ownership rules are being breached.

Last year, six-time Ligue 1 champions Bordeaux had to surrender their professional status after being relegated from Ligue 2 to the French fourth tier because of bankruptcy.

What could it mean for Palace's European hopes?

There remains an air of caution at Palace despite the significant news of Lyon's enforced relegation.

Uefa rules state that two clubs under significant control of the same person or entity cannot compete in the same competition and that the team with the highest league finish - Lyon - takes the spot in that respective European competition.

The Premier League side have insisted to Uefa that Textor has no control at all at Selhurst Park, despite the American businessman's company Eagle Football Holdings having a 43.9% stake.

The news that Lyon have been relegated has raised hope at Palace that the issue will disappear because the French side, according to sources, will lose last season's sixth-place finish.

As of Tuesday night, Palace were still awaiting full clarification on what Lyon's relegation means for their European hopes.

But even if the French football authorities verify that Lyon's sixth-place finish has now been expunged, Palace will have to wait for a final decision before they can plan their first venture into European football.

Lyon have already confirmed that they intend to appeal the decision.

There are concerns at the south London club that even if Lyon fail in their appeal with the French league, they will take their fight even further - thus prolonging the agony.

Can Textor and Lyon convince the authorities that they are rectifying their poor financial state enough to lift their relegation?

And can Lyon have their punishment delayed until the appeals processes are complete?

These are questions Palace are likely to be asking themselves.

Then there's the matter of Nottingham Forest, who stand to gain if Palace lose their Europa League status, and their response to Palace keeping their place in Uefa's second most prestigious competition.

There was hope that Palace would have clarity over their European destiny by the end of this week. They may now have to wait much longer.

Source: https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/cy7ng4vj8leo

Impossibility is Nothing truly...... There is no supreme club

Such is life... Lyon won the Ligue 1 seven times consecutively and were the biggest club in France at the time... today they find themselves in the Ligue 2.

I was in love with this Lyon team many years back when they were dominating french league same way PSG is doing now..

This is a special relegation ooooo

I never hear this type of this punishments' before..


Well with village people , you can never tell.

Well that is a sad news to hear from france.
Wrong Administrative process cost a big team like Lyon to fall.

Coming back from relegation next season, just a little set back to them. I'm expecting Manchester United to follow this suit, so their board can do better investment after relegation.

All their important players go run comot the club, them go still need more finance to struggle out of the second division

Maybe the prayer I prayed for them after cutting my ticked on sporty finally worked. E remain Bayern for yesterday

It has happen to Juventus before and almost happen to Man u last season

TUANKU:
Such is life... Lyon won the Ligue 1 seven times consecutively and were the biggest club in France at the time... today they find themselves in the Ligue 2.

That is life. Nothing is impossible especially in football

It will be overturned on appeal. Unless beef is involved

Sunkyboie:
It has happen to Juventus before and almost happen to Man u last season

Juventus was match fixing. I remember that year. They bounced back so fast

How the mighty have fallen. During the 2000 era, it was only Lyon you were hearing about out of ligue one because of the way they turned that league to personal property.

Good for betting! I love this
Good for betting! I love this

Sunkyboie:
It has happen to Juventus before and almost happen to Man u last season

It happened in 2006...it was a sad year for all Juve fans across the world

A reminder that nothing and no one is too big to fail. Keep grinding hard, ...the right way!!.

TheGratefulMan:
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Oga, why are you still doing scam?

Why can't you get a proper job?

Why decieve people?

Since 2020!

bobonla:
Maybe the prayer I prayed for them after cutting my ticked on sporty finally worked. E remain Bayern for yesterday

bros why u go carry Bayern wen do qualify wen free 4odd dey look u for benfica many of Una no Sabi betting.

Too bad and i feel for them.

Nevertheless Man U should quickly buy Malick Fofana from there, i believe the price would drop a bit because of this recent development. Boy is good.

They were knocking Madrid out of Cl steady back then

onome442:
bros why u go carry Bayern wen do qualify wen free 4odd dey look u for benfica many of Una no Sabi betting.

Omo I Bleep up no be small. The thing vex me no be small

TUANKU:
Such is life... Lyon won the Ligue 1 seven times consecutively and were the biggest club in France at the time... today they find themselves in the Ligue 2.

One Arab billionaire should just buy the club and the club will go back to it's former state.

Can wait for this to be the faith of Manchester utd.

That was not the issue with Juventus,What happen with Juve and some Italians club then was called Calcio Poli scandal,which has to do with match fixing and corruption

Sunkyboie:
It has happen to Juventus before and almost happen to Man u last season

Lyon can only win the case if they decide to come Nigeria supreme court

Textor sold all his stake at crystal palace already. Lyon wouldn't have any problems playing in the UEL.

How are the mighty fallen...lyon used to be no 1 in France

NinjaMetahuman:
Can wait for this to be the faith of Manchester utd.

Back to sender. Una evil plans against Ngozi United go fail.

TUANKU:
Such is life... Lyon won the Ligue 1 seven times consecutively and were the biggest club in France at the time... today they find themselves in the Ligue 2.

Very good. Na to just Dey carry Lyon to score . No time. If you know you know