Shock in France : Olympique Lyonnais officially relegated to Ligue 2

Olympique Lyonnais have been officially relegated to Ligue 2 following a final decision by the DNCG on Tuesday. Despite a strong second half of the season on the pitch—finishing sixth in Ligue 1 and reaching the Europa League quarter-finals—the club’s financial troubles have caught up with them.

The French financial watchdog, which had provisionally sanctioned OL last November, has now confirmed the relegation after reviewing the club’s latest accounts.

Owner John Textor and his management had hoped to overturn the initial verdict by presenting financial guarantees during this week’s hearing. 

However, the DNCG did not find the assurances convincing enough. In a statement, the committee announced: “OL: relegation to Ligue 2,” sending shockwaves through French football. This decision marks a dramatic fall for one of France’s most historic clubs and throws their future into uncertainty, both competitively and financially.