Lyon's financial situation could warrant relegation to Ligue 2
Today at 06:17 AM
According to a report from Romain Molina, Olympique Lyonnais's financial situation could warrant the DNCG to announce an administrative relegation to Ligue 2. However, the journalist notes that French football's financial watchdog is unlikely to take this step, writing that this would only apply in a "normal world."
L'Équipe has previously written about how there are certain questions raised by Lyon's financial structure with the club losing money every year due to an economic model based on recurrent Champions League qualification.
The French outlet notes that poor sporting results over the past five years have dragged Lyon down, but also that the club's wage bill, one of the largest in Ligue 1, is overinflated. Jordan Veretout (31) was provided with a contract of around €300,000 per month, while other older players like Anthony Lopes (34) sit in the reserves with very high wages.
Last night, Eagle Group (who own Lyon) announced a net loss of around €25 million despite sales to some of their physical assets such as the women's team and OL Reign, and receiving the CVC payment from the LFP, while Le Progrès points out that the club's financial debt rose from €458 million to €508 million.
Player departures expected for Lyon this winter
Molina writes that there could be a fire sale coming to Lyon this winter with all players being up for auction. Over the summer, there was already some evidence of this with Les Gones sanctioning the departure of highly promising academy graduate Mamadou Sarr (19) to RC Strasbourg Alsace for only €10 million.
