Olympique Lyonnais relegated to Ligue 2 due to accumulated debts

The French Football Federation, in cooperation with the financial oversight body, announced the relegation of Olympique Lyonnais to Ligue 2 due to the club's worsening financial crisis.

The decision comes after the club's debts exceeded €500 million, posing a real threat to its financial stability and continental participation. Lyon's management had been given a deadline at the beginning of the current season to provide evidence of a partial settlement of these debts, but the documents submitted were insufficient to convince the regulatory body.

Although the club has the right to appeal the decision, its current position is officially in Ligue 2, a significant blow to its history and standing in French football.

Earlier last December, UEFA provisionally banned Lyon from participating in the Europa League due to its 2024 financial statements failing to meet the continuity criteria. The sanction was later lifted after auditors narrowly approved the accounts, but UEFA has kept the club under close scrutiny.

Lyon finished last season in the French league in sixth place, with 57 points, achieving 17 wins and six draws. The club is considered one of the most prestigious teams in France, having won the French league title seven times and the French Cup five times.