Olympique Lyonnais have officially been relegated to Ligue 2 following a decision by the French football financial watchdog DNCG (Direction Nationale du Contrôle de Gestion). The ruling came on Tuesday after the organization reviewed the club’s financial situation in detail.

John Textor, president of the club, and football director Michael Gerlinger attended the hearing in Paris in a final bid to avoid the drop. The threat of administrative relegation had been looming since November 15, when the DNCG first flagged serious concerns about Lyon’s financial health.

Despite their efforts, the decision was firm: Olympique Lyon will be demoted to the second tier of French football for the upcoming season.

Appeal Still Possible

The club is expected to lodge an appeal in hopes of overturning the decision and retaining its Ligue 1 status. Further developments, including potential restructuring or emergency funding plans, are likely to emerge in the coming days.

This dramatic setback comes just months after Lyon began a rebuilding project under Textor’s multi-club ownership model, which also includes stakes in Botafogo and Molenbeek. The ruling casts serious doubts over the future of one of France’s most historically significant clubs.