'I'm very much the issue' - John Textor highlights 'corruption' accusations and labels himself an 'agent of change' as ex-Lyon chief slams French football over relegation

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Lyon won its appeal and has been reinstated to Ligue 1
Textor criticises the DNCG’s decision-making process
Crystal Palace‘s Europa League spot now at risk

The seven-time French champions have successfully appealed their provisional relegation and have been reinstated to Ligue 1 for the upcoming season. This decision by the National Directorate of Management Control (DNCG), followed the club’s demotion at the end of last season. Textor, whose Eagle Football Holdings owns a majority share in Lyon, had previously resigned from the club’s board following the initial relegation, and has criticised the DNCG’s decision process as “very subjective” and “not black and white.”

Textor questioned how a financially sound club like Lyon, with significant cash on hand and projected future revenue, could be relegated for sustainability. The Eagle group owner contrasted the DNCG’s approach with UEFA’s extremely professional sustainability review, which Lyon passed in the same week. Textor further accused the DNCG of being “very subjective,” alleging they arbitrarily discounted substantial revenues such as player transfers and multi-club cash flows from Botafogo, claiming the DNCG would effectively count player revenues and transfer revenues as zero.

In a conversation with Talksport When asked if he was the reason for Lyon’s initial sanctions, Textor said: “I think I’m very much the issue.”

The American businessman elaborated on his role, stating: “I’m attempting to be an agent of change. I think the governance in France is not working. We’re trying to bring a Premier League model in which every club has a vote. It hasn’t been done that way previously. The league is constantly being accused of corruption. There was just a claim against the president.”

Textor further went on to criticise the DNCG: “The French Football Federation is trying to take over, which is a huge mistake. And I show up and we have a bunch of panels and I say I’m literally challenging the existence of the DNCG and whether or not they should exist. So if I’m talking about a new model, a reformist model where there is no DNCG but there are black and white rules like we have in the Premier League, I’m probably not the best guy to go in front of that same DNCG and ask their support. So yes, the problem is me.”

Lyon’s reinstatement to Ligue 1 clears the path for the club to participate in the Europa League next season. However, this decision has significant ramifications for Crystal Palace. Due to UEFA’s multi-club ownership rules, Crystal Palace, despite winning the FA Cup and Textor selling his shares to New York Jets owner Woody Johnson, will likely be demoted to the Conference League. The Eagles will most certainly appeal should they be denied their first European campaign.