Sports
Lyon Relegated Over Finances, Boosts Palace’s European Bid
French club Lyon have been demoted to Ligue 2 because of the poor state of their finances.
The club were provisionally demoted by the DNGC, the body which oversees the accounts of French professional football clubs, in November.
Lyon officials including owner John Textor, met with the DNGC on Tuesday but failed to convince the body that the club had sufficiently improved their financial situation to lift the punishment.
Last October, his Eagle Football Group, which owns a 77% stake in Lyon, announced debts of £422m.
In a statement, Lyon said the DNGC’s decision was “incomprehensible” and confirmed they would appeal.
Lyon’s relegation could prove significant to Crystal Palace’s hopes of playing in the Europa League next season.
Their participation is currently in doubt because of Uefa rules, which prevent multiple teams under one multi-club ownership structure competing in the same European competition.
Textor owns stakes in both clubs although he agreed a deal to sell his 43% share in Palace on Monday.
Lyon baffled by decision
“With proven funds and sporting success that has earned us a place in European competition for two consecutive years, we sincerely do not understand how an administrative decision could relegate such a major French club,” Lyon’s statement said.
“We will appeal to demonstrate our ability to provide the necessary financial resources to guarantee OL’s place in Ligue 1.”
Seven-time French champions Lyon raised around £45m with the sales of Maxence Caqueret to Como in January and Rayan Cherki to Manchester City in June in an attempt to improve their finances.
High earners such as Alexandre Lacazette and Anthony Lopes have also been released.
Lyon have the right to appeal against the decision. Should it stand, Lyon will be replaced in the top flight by Reims, who were beaten in the relegation play-off by Metz.
Only five teams have lifted more French titles than Lyon’s seven, which they won in successive seasons between 2002 and 2008.
The club reached the Champions League semi-finals as recently as 2020 and have not played in the second tier since 1989.
When the provisional punishment was handed down in November, Textor said that there was “no chance” the club would be relegated and reiterated his confidence before Tuesday’s meeting.
“We have made a variety of investments in recent weeks,” he said. “Everything is good financially.”
Textor is also the largest shareholder of Brazilian club Botafogo and currently co-owner of Palace until his deal to sell his stake to New York Jets owner Woody Johnson is completed.
“Over the past few months, we have worked closely with the DNCG, fulfilling all of its requests with equity investments that exceeded the required amounts,” Lyon’s statement continued.
“Thanks to capital injections from our shareholders and the sale of Crystal Palace, our cash flow has significantly improved and we now have more than sufficient financial resources for the 2025-26 season.”
Palace qualified for the Europa League by winning the FA Cup but Lyon also qualified by finishing sixth in Ligue 1. The French side’s higher league finish means they would take a European spot at Palace’s expense – should Uefa decide their multi-club ownership rules are being breached.
Last year, six-time Ligue 1 champions Bordeaux had to surrender their professional status after being relegated from Ligue 2 to the French fourth tier because of bankruptcy.
What could it mean for Palace’s European hopes?
There remains an air of caution at Palace despite the significant news of Lyon’s enforced relegation.
Uefa rules state that two clubs under significant control of the same person or entity cannot compete in the same competition and that the team with the highest league finish – Lyon – takes the spot in that respective European competition.
The Premier League side have insisted to Uefa that Textor has no control at all at Selhurst Park, despite the American businessman’s company Eagle Football Holdings having a 43.9% stake.
The news that Lyon have been relegated has raised hope at Palace that the issue will disappear because the French side, according to sources, will lose last season’s sixth-place finish.
As of Tuesday night, Palace were still awaiting full clarification on what Lyon’s relegation means for their European hopes.
But even if the French football authorities verify that Lyon’s sixth-place finish has now been expunged, Palace will have to wait for a final decision before they can plan their first venture into European football.
Lyon have already confirmed that they intend to appeal the decision.
There are concerns at the south London club that even if Lyon fail in their appeal with the French league, they will take their fight even further – thus prolonging the agony.
Can Textor and Lyon convince the authorities that they are rectifying their poor financial state enough to lift their relegation?
And can Lyon have their punishment delayed until the appeals processes are complete?
These are questions Palace are likely to be asking themselves.
Then there’s the matter of Nottingham Forest, who stand to gain if Palace lose their Europa League status, and their response to Palace keeping their place in Uefa’s second most prestigious competition.
There was hope that Palace would have clarity over their European destiny by the end of this week. They may now have to wait much longer.
Bbc.com
Sports
“This Is Massive”: Fans React As Super Eagles Star Sadiq Umar, El-Rufai Acquire Football Club in Nigeria
Super Eagles forward Sadiq Umar has made a bold move by securing a football club in Nigeria, becoming the first active player to own a club
The former Nigeria U23 spent a significant part of his holidays in the country mingling with his childhood friends and teammates, including Super Eagles captain Ahmed Musa.
Football fans have reacted positively to the acquisition of a local club by the former AS Roma forward…
Sadiq Umar is preparing for life after football, as he acquired a local football club in Nigeria.
The Olympic bronze medallist partnered with a current House of Representatives member to seal the move
The 28-year-old, who joined Valencia on loan from Real Sociedad in January 2025, was named La Liga Goal of the Month winner for March.
Umar buys football club
Super Eagles star Sadiq Umar, in partnership with a House of Representatives member (Kaduna North), Bello El-Rufai, has officially taken over the leadership of Ranchers Bees.
According to Punch, Umar revealed that the move aims to revive the old memories of the club for the people of Northern Nigeria.
The former Almería star explained that he grew up watching the team, which has produced numerous stars who have represented Nigeria at various continental and international competitions.
Umar said: “I and my current partner, Honourable Bello El-Rufai have a big dream of returning the club to it’s past glory days. “I grew up watching Ranchers Bees of Kaduna, a club that produced countless players, including Super Eagles legend Daniel Amokachi.”
Owners of Ranchers Bees have named former AS Roma defender, Nura Abdullahi, as their president. According to Sports Intel, Ranchers Bees will compete in the 2025/26 Nigeria National League (NNL), with the mandate of qualifying for the Nigeria Premier Football League.
Umar said the former defender has been given full operation and long-term strategy to revive the club. The Super Eagles star said: “The team is set to compete in the Nigeria National League (NNL) in the upcoming season. “Our target is to secure promotion to the NPFL. I’m elated by the feedback from Rancher Bees supporters and the people of Kaduna.”
Fans react
@Strydizzle said: “Finally, Ranchers Bees that I grew up knowing will be back 🕺🏿🕺🏿🕺🏿🕺🏿🕺🏿.”
@ahmadatmos wrote: “Beautiful. I want all Nigerian football clubs to be fully privatized. The government should let go and you’ll see how quickly things change.”
@oil_shaeikh added: “I’m so happy about this acquisition, hopefully your leadership and passion of Sadık will give Arewa talents wasting away the necessary platform to shine in both the national league, national team and international competitions.” “Allah ya taimaka.”
@Abubakar_Mhmmad wrote: “This is truly a welcome development, we’ve been yearning for something of this magnitude. Kudos to the both of you and in Ranchers Bees 🐝 we’ve finally find something to hold onto and be proud of. Go #Ranchers.”
In preparation for the upcoming football season worldwide, Ventolite Marketing International has published the 17th edition of Sports Market International (SMI), the sole sports magazine in Nigeria.
Published quarterly, Sports Market International has established a noteworthy presence within the football media landscape, extending its reach to four African nations, namely Cameroon, South Africa, Ghana, and the Republic of Benin.
The magazine’s focused approach has contributed to its acceptance in these regions. Renowned for its innovative and insightful content, the magazine has featured elite global athletes, including Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Emmanuel Emenike, Victor Moses, Stephen Kesh, Victor Osimhen, Kylian Mbappe, Anthony Joshua, and Ademola Lookman.
The 17th edition includes a highlight of the top 100 footballers globally across various leagues, showcasing prominent players. Additionally, it covers Chelsea Football Club, recognized as a recent history-maker for their achievements in winning all UEFA club competitions, including the FIFA World Club Cup. The Super Falcons of Nigeria also garner attention after their dramatic victory against the host nation, Morocco, securing the 10th title at the Africa Women Championship.
Furthermore, the magazine’s scope extends to an in-depth analysis of the Nigeria Premier League, wherein football experts evaluate the league’s development and the international standard players it has produced over the years.
Through its comprehensive coverage, Sports Market International continues to engage football enthusiasts with thorough narratives and analytical pieces.
At a press conference held in Lagos, Sam Okata, the Business Development Manager of Ventolite Marketing International, stated, “As the football season commences with enthusiasm in many European countries, we remain committed to providing high-quality publications as we distribute our latest edition into the market.
Our objective is to establish ourselves as a leading sports marketing magazine on the continent. Numerous vendors have suggested that we transition to a weekly publication; however, we are strategically expanding to ensure market stability. We have successfully disseminated this edition in alignment with the resumption of the European Leagues.”
Former Manchester City right-back Micah Richards and ex-Barcelona striker Gary Lineker were left stunned by Victor Osimhen’s decision to join Galatasaray on a four-year deal, Soccernet.ng reports.
The Super Eagles star spent the 2024/2025 season on loan with the Turkish Super Lig side, as Napoli’s €150m asking fee wasn’t matched by any club despite the striker’s insistence on leaving Naples.
The 26-year-old enjoyed his loan spell with the Turkish champions last season, scoring 37 goals and providing seven assists in 41 games.
Many expected Galatasaray to be Osimhen’s stepping-stone club that would open the path to the English Premier League, but it came as a surprise to see one of the best strikers in Europe moving to a club outside the top five leagues.
“Osimhen signed a deal for four years at Galatasaray in Turkey. I can’t believe it,” Micah Richards said on The Rest is Football podcast.
“A top player like that should be playing. Galatasaray is a massive club but in terms of European football he could do better than that, in my opinion.
‘He’d be top a three No.9 in the Premier League. Fact. Joao Pedro is unbelievable, but you cannot say he’s better than Osimhen. Not a chance,” the CBS Sports Golazo pundit continued.
Lineker‘s thoughts on Osimhen‘s Galatasaray move
The former England striker was also left in awe by the striker’s decision to head to Turkey in the prime of his career, but had also heard a theory as to why there wasn’t much interest from top clubs in the player this summer, as there had been in the past.
“I saw Osimhen play a couple of times against Leicester when they were in the Europa League,’ the former Leicester City forward added.
“He was so impressive and I’ve followed his career because of that. He was absolutely brilliant for Napoli. I mean, he was sensational.
“I do hear on the grapevine that a reason one or two of the clubs are a little bit nervous is that he sometimes goes missing for a few days. So, there’s apparently some kind of slight question mark as to his character in that sense,” Lineker concluded.
Former Napoli coach Francesco Calzona, recently mentioned that Osimhen doesn’t take kindly to criticism and urged the Nigerian forward to do better, as that’s his only flaw.
Osimhen is Galatasaray’s most expensive recruit in the club’s history, and he’ll be spending the next four years at RAMS Park creating memories with the Cim Bom Aslan
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