The Athletic FC Podcast Why have Lyon been relegated?
Jun 30, 2025
Joining the discussion are Matt Slater, a senior football news reporter, Tom Williams, a French football writer, and Matt Woosnam, a Crystal Palace correspondent. They delve into the unexpected relegation of Lyon, examining the impact of John Textor's multi-club ownership model. The trio discusses the financial turmoil facing the club, fan frustrations, and the challenges of UEFA compliance. They also explore the implications of Lyon's struggles for the broader French football landscape and what it means for Crystal Palace's European dreams.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
DNCG's Unique Financial Role
- The DNCG evaluates French football clubs on solvency, focusing on whether clubs can meet financial obligations, not on fixed loss thresholds like UEFA does.
- Lyon's relegation stemmed from failing to meet financial commitments agreed in May, leading to DNCG activating their provisional relegation in June.
Fan Shock at Lyon Relegation
- Lyon's relegation shocked fans and French football, given the club's historic stability and ownership of assets.
- Fans expressed anger and disappointment as promises by John Textor fell short, undermining trust.
Textor's Confidence and Surprise
- John Textor was confident everything would be resolved despite warnings but was shocked by the relegation decision.
- He struggled to understand why UEFA approved Lyon for Europe but the DNCG did not.