OL relegated to Ligue 2: a look back at an economic debacle in eight key dates

The axe has fallen for Olympique Lyonnais (OL). The National Directorate of Management Control (DNCG), the financial watchdog of French football , confirmed, on the evening of Tuesday, June 24, the club's administrative relegation to Ligue 2, a measure that had been pronounced, as a precautionary measure, in November 2024. This decision is deemed "incomprehensible" by the Rhône management, which is awaiting the body's reasons for appealing. OL has, however, been in serious economic difficulty for several years. A situation that has worsened with the arrival at the helm of American businessman John Textor. A look back at the main stages that led the seven-time French champion to the brink of collapse.

For more than three months, the Pathé and IDG groups, holding 19.38% and 19.85% of OL Groupe's capital respectively, alongside Jean-Michel Aulas, majority shareholder with 27.72% via his company Holnest, have announced their desire to end their Lyon adventure. On June 20, they announced that they were entering into exclusive negotiations with the holding company Eagle Football, owned by American businessman John Textor . The latter is already at the head of the clubs Botafogo (Brazil) and Molenbeek (Belgium) and also holds shares in Crystal Palace (England).

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