– It is shocking and sad for such a large and traditional club, says NRK expert Kristoffer Løkberg.
The relegation comes after the club’s license application was rejected. The club confirms that they are appealing the decision.
– We sincerely do not understand how an administrative decision can send down such a big French club, writes Lyon in a press release on Tuesday evening.
– We will appeal to demonstrate our ability to provide the necessary financial resources to ensure OL’s continued presence in Ligue 1, it continues.
Club president John Textor and sporting director Mickael Gerlinger met with the DNCG, the body that handles the licensing system in French professional football, on Tuesday.
DNCG
They were to discuss the threat of administrative relegation that has hung over the club since November last year.
The outcome was expected to be that the club would be granted a license, but instead it was rejected.
The reason for the threat of relegation was that the club had not provided the guarantees DNCG had requested, based on a debt burden of 175 million euros.
LYON-PRESIDENT: John Textor.
They last played in Ligue 2 – which is the second level of French football – in the 1988/89 season.
– The last word has not been said
Just a few days ago, Textor spoke confidently to L’Equipe ahead of Tuesday’s meeting.
– We have realized various investments in recent weeks, and everything is good financially, he said.
Textor recently sold out of English club Crystal Palace, which was in danger of missing out on European Cup play due to UEFA’s ban on clubs with the same owners participating in the same tournaments.
Løkberg envisions Lyon’s appeal causing this case to last through the summer.
– This is another saga that could last until the season kicks off in August. The last word has not been said in this matter, says Løkberg.
– France hasn’t been the worst
– In sports economics literature, when we analyze clubs and compare them with other continents, you see a big difference. Clubs in Europe try to win at all costs, and many demand that the club win depending on potential. Things have improved somewhat in Europe after Financial Fair Play to try to curb spending.
Financial Fair Play
That’s what Harry Solberg, professor at NTNU, says. He is also an expert in sports economics.
Solberg says that it is nothing new for a club to be punished for their financial situation, and refers to both Barcelona and Manchester City.
– People have different attitudes towards this, and further south people are a little more relaxed about following the rules and looking for loopholes. France hasn’t been the worst there, he explains.
EXPERT: Harry Arne Solberg, expert in sports economics.
Late Tuesday evening, confirmation came that the club was appealing.
– How could this affect Lyon’s reputation?
– How could this affect Lyon’s reputation?
– It’s hard to say. It could also weaken the league, like in Scotland when Glasgow Rangers were convicted of cheating by deceiving the tax authorities. They were relegated, and especially in Scotland where all the clubs are important, everyone lost out. The league itself could become less attractive, answers NTNU professor Solberg.
Proud tradition
Lyon finished sixth in Ligue 1 last season, qualifying for the Europa League. Last season, they reached the quarter-finals of that tournament, where they lost 6–7 on aggregate to Manchester United.
The club has won the league seven times and the cup five times. They have also reached the semi-finals of the Champions League twice, most recently in 2020.
STAR HEAVY: Top scorer Alexandre Lacazette is among the profiles on the Lyon team.
Lyon has several profiles in their squad. Among them are Alexandre Lacazette, Corentin Tolisso, Nemanja Matic, Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Nicolás Tagliafico.
– The players probably have some good contracts, which ensure that they can leave the clubs for free in situations like this, says Løkberg.
Recently they sold Rayan Cherki to Manchester City.
The club’s women’s team features the Norwegian duo Ada Hegerberg and Ingrid Syrstad Engen.