John Textor Steps Back From Lyon Management Amid Club’s Ligue 1 Survival Fight

‎American businessman John Textor intends to step back from the daily management of Olympique Lyonnais after the club’s relegation to Ligue 2 was officially confirmed following a meeting with France’s financial watchdog (DNCG) this week.

‎Textor, owner of the French club through his Eagle Football Group, announced his decision in an interview with Brazil’s TV Globo on Saturday, just before his Brazilian team Botafogo’s 1-0 defeat to Palmeiras in the Club World Cup. He acknowledged that he could have handled French football politics differently.

‎Lyon’s relegation was initially announced by the DNCG in November amid financial irregularities and was officially confirmed on Tuesday.

‎Textor stated that the club would appeal the decision and emphasized that Lyon’s financial stability remained solid despite the ruling.

‎”I will tell you that we’re very well capitalised in France,” Textor told TV Globo. “It’s clear that I’ve been much better on the pitch than managing France. I have not been so good at the politics of France.

‎”I think that’s well known. So the process is, for me, as an American capitalist, adjusting to that system.”

‎Textor said his focus would shift towards broader responsibilities within Eagle Football Group which also includes Botafogo and formerly included a 43% stake in English club Crystal Palace, sold earlier this week.

‎”I am going to spend a lot more time focusing on Eagle Global, coming back frankly a bit more to Botafogo,” he said.

‎”I’ve got perfect partners in the Eagle Football Group shareholders who are going to take a lead on dealing with some of the issues that I have frankly not been very good at dealing with.”

‎Despite Lyon’s relegation, Textor emphasized the club’s recent accomplishments, such as securing consecutive spots in the Europa League, and reassured fans that the club remained financially stable.

‎”We’ve never been more liquid in cash. But there are things in the process I did that disappointed the governing bodies there that we need to fix,” Textor said.

‎”We did pass through the financial sustainability review with UEFA, which is quite a comprehensive process. So the fact that we didn’t pass through France has more to do with some of the specific elements that I brought to the table that I should have improved.”

‎Textor hinted at a potential acquisition in the United Kingdom to replace the Crystal Palace stake.

‎”We have our U.K. strategy where we need to look at who our new club is. What are we going to buy there? What’s the partnership? Because it’s that collaboration between the clubs that’s been so successful for us,” he said.