Lyon owner Textor to take step back from running club after relegation to Ligue 2
"Our success on the pitch has not been matched by our success off the pitch," Textor told AFP in relation to Lyon's plight despite them finishing sixth in Ligue 1 in the season just finished to qualify for Europe.
Textor runs Lyon in his role as president of Eagle Football, the group which owns several clubs including Brazilian champions Botafogo.
But he admitted that his efforts to reduce Lyon's debts and solve their problems have not been enough to convince French football's financial watchdog, known as the DNCG.
He therefore now plans to let others take charge of the club's appeal against their relegation, which was announced last Tuesday.
"I am going to pull back from this process. We have some people, some partners that are going to take the step forward," he told AFP in Philadelphia following Botafogo's 1-0 defeat to Palmeiras in the Club World Cup on Saturday.
"I am an owner. If I had a coach go into a game five times in a row with a bad tactical plan I'd fire him.
"As the majority owner of Eagle Football I am clearly not getting it done at the DNCG so we are going to put some different faces in play, and we are going to work very constructively with the DNCG."
Textor has just agreed a deal to sell his 43 percent stake in English Premier League club Crystal Palace to New York Jets owner Woody Johnson.
The BBC reported that Johnson, a former US ambassador to the United Kingdom, would pay £190 million ($255 million) for the shares.
Textor, who bought Lyon in late 2022, believes that money can be reinjected into the seven-time French champions to help their case.
Explaining his decision to step back from Lyon, Textor said he felt his "weird" ideas were being misunderstood.
"I am the capitalist that shows up with a bunch of weird creative ideas and I don't understand why they are not understood there, and that is hurting the club," he said.
"So I know we are going to put some more capital into the equation, we are going to argue for the case we already made, we are going to do it respectfully."
Lyon announced on Friday that they had reached an agreement with European football's governing body UEFA to enable them to play in next season's Europa League, provided an appeal against their relegation succeeds.
"There is no solvency or sustainability issue with us –- we just cleared the UEFA financial sustainability review," Textor added.
"I am very proud of our on-pitch success. We had a relegation squad when I took it over...We took care of the banks, we stabilised the club, we got them back into Europe, and then administratively we get sent down.
"It's a pretty odd world for me."
© 2025 AFP
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
France 24
an hour ago
- France 24
Strike shuts down Bangladesh's biggest port
The shutdown at Chittagong Port is part of an ongoing dispute between tax authority employees and the government, which is trying to overhaul the body. "The port typically handles around 7,000 to 8,000 containers daily... But since this morning, there has been no movement in offloading or onboarding of goods," said Mohammed Omar Faruq, secretary of the Chittagong Port Authority. "This is having a huge impact on the country's economic situation," he told AFP. Bangladesh is the world's second-largest garment manufacturer, while textile and garment production accounts for about 80 percent of the country's exports. Mahmud Hasan Khan, president of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association, said the halt in port operations would cost the industry $222 million. "The cost of recovery will be staggering -- beyond comprehension -- and many factories risk going bankrupt," he told AFP. Staff at the National Board of Revenue (NBR) have been striking on and off for weeks over plans to split the authority into two separate bodies. Bangladesh's interim leader, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus, urged them to end the walkout. "We hope NBR's staff will report back to work setting aside their unlawful programme that goes against the national interest of the country," his office said in a statement. "Otherwise for the sake of the people of this country and safeguarding the economy the government will be left with no option but to act firmly," the statement added. NBR staff were prevented from entering their offices on Sunday after a government order sought to stop them from protesting within their building premises.
France 24
an hour ago
- France 24
Austrian GP delayed after Sainz' Williams catches fire
After taking a push from the marshals, the Spanish driver chased after the rest of the field and was set to start from the pit-lane until his rear brakes caught fire. The race distance was reduced by one lap to 70 laps. Sainz's car was beyond rapid repair and he was forced to withdraw from the race. The conditions for the race were hot with air temperatures touching 32 degrees Celsius and the track temperature recorded at 54 degrees. "I cannot tell you the temperature of the seat," said two-time champion Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin as he waited for the re-start. "It's maybe 200 degrees!" © 2025 AFP
LeMonde
3 hours ago
- LeMonde
Inter Miami: An ambitious young franchise and haven for former Barça stars
Paris Saint-Germain's (PSG) American adventure at the FIFA Club World Cup has the feel of a reunion. On Sunday, June 29, PSG will play for a place in the tournament's quarter-finals at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. Kickoff is at 6 pm, mainland France time. Their opponent: Inter Miami, home to former PSG star Lionel Messi. The Argentine left a bittersweet legacy in Paris. He described his time in the French capital (2021-2023) as a "difficult period" during which he "didn't feel happy." Now based in Florida, the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner, 38, has flourished at the club chaired by David Beckham. The former Manchester United star, who also wore the PSG shirt for half a season in 2013, has expressed pride in bringing Messi on board, who is regarded by many as the best footballer in the world. Messi's arrival has turned Inter Miami into the second most valuable franchise in Major League Soccer (MLS), the North American league. According to Forbes magazine, the club is now valued at more than $1.2 billion (over €1 billion). The club now boasts its own stadium: gone is the 21,000-seat Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, located 45 kilometers from Miami. In its place is Miami Freedom Park, a 25,000-seat venue near the city's international airport. This project is expected to be completed just in time for the FIFA World Cup, which will be held across Canada, Mexico and the United States in the summer of 2026.
