If the appeal doesn’t work out, Reims, who lost the relegation play-off to Metz, would probably keep their Ligue 1 status instead of Lyon. It’s surprising to see Lyon’s decline, especially since they reached the Champions League semi-finals in 2020 and finished sixth in Ligue 1 this season.
After the DNCG decided to send Lyon down to Ligue 2 because of bad money management, another team got a chance to benefit. Reims, who got pushed down through the relegation play-offs in Ligue 1 after losing to Metz, might gain from this situation.
If Lyon’s drop is made official, Les Gones plan to challenge the decision, and nothing will be final until that challenge is reviewed. Les Rouges et Blancs could get their spot back in Ligue 1 even though they were already relegated. Since Reims was the highest finishing team in Ligue 1 that got relegated last season, they would get another shot to keep their place in the top French league next year.
OL has been sent down to Ligue 2 by the DNCG because of poor financial handling. In the winter, the French football financial authority gave Les Gones a temporary relegation warning, saying they would be dropped to the second tier if their money issues didn’t get better. John Textor couldn’t persuade the authority that the club’s finances had improved enough to avoid being demoted.
