The relegation decision, which was announced on June 24, 2025, comes from a review by the DNCG, the organization that makes sure French professional football clubs are financially healthy. This decision follows a temporary relegation given in November 2024 because Lyon did not improve their financial situation by the end of the 2024-25 season, which officially ends on June 30, 2025.
Reports say that the club’s debt increased to €508 million, and in October 2024, Eagle Football Group raised more concerns, showing debts of about £422 million ($574.85 million).The DNCG’s actions included not just the possible relegation but also a transfer ban and monitoring of payroll, showing how serious Lyon’s financial problems are.
Other cases, like Girondins Bordeaux being relegated to the fourth tier due to bankruptcy, highlight the DNCG’s strict rules on financial management. Lyon tried to fix the crisis by selling John Textor’s 43% stake in Crystal Palace and the women’s team, but this was not enough to convince the DNCG that they were financially stable.
Even though they played well, Lyon ended the 2024-25 Ligue 1 season in sixth place, which usually means they would stay in the top tier and get a spot in the Europa League’s group stage. However, the administrative relegation takes precedence over their sporting results. According to the statistics for the 2024-25 season, Lyon played 34 matches, winning 17, drawing 6, and losing 11, scoring 65 goals and allowing 46, which gave them a total of 57 points.
