Lyon relegated over finances and what that means for Palace's European hopes

French nine Lyon person been demoted to Ligue 2 because of nan mediocre authorities of their finances.

The nine were provisionally demoted by nan DNGC, nan assemblage which oversees nan accounts of French master shot clubs, successful November.

Lyon officials including proprietor John Textor, met pinch nan DNGC connected Tuesday but grounded to person nan assemblage that nan nine had sufficiently improved their financial business to assistance nan punishment.

Last October, his Eagle Football Group, which owns a 77% liking successful Lyon, announced debts of £422m.

In a statement, Lyon said nan DNGC's determination was "incomprehensible" and confirmed they would appeal.

Lyon's relegation could beryllium important to Crystal Palace's hopes of playing successful nan Europa League adjacent season.

Their information is presently successful uncertainty because of Uefa rules, which forestall aggregate teams nether 1 multi-club ownership building competing successful nan aforesaid European competition.

Textor owns stakes successful some clubs though he agreed a woody to waste his 43% share successful Palace connected Monday.

"With proven costs and sporting occurrence that has earned america a spot successful European title for 2 consecutive years, we sincerely do not understand really an administrative determination could relegate specified a awesome French club," Lyon's connection said.

"We will entreaty to show our expertise to supply nan basal financial resources to guarantee OL's spot successful Ligue 1."

Seven-time French champions Lyon raised astir £45m pinch nan income of Maxence Caqueret to Como successful January and Rayan Cherki to Manchester City successful June successful an effort to amended their finances.

High earners specified arsenic Alexandre Lacazette and Anthony Lopes person besides been released.

Lyon person nan correct to entreaty against nan decision. Should it stand, Lyon will beryllium replaced successful nan apical formation by Reims, who were beaten successful nan relegation play-off by Metz.

Only 5 teams person lifted much French titles than Lyon's seven, which they won successful successive seasons betwixt 2002 and 2008.

The nine reached nan Champions League semi-finals arsenic precocious arsenic 2020 and person not played successful nan 2nd tier since 1989.

When nan provisional reward was handed down successful November, Textor said that location was "no chance" nan nine would beryllium relegated and reiterated his assurance earlier Tuesday's meeting.

"We person made a assortment of investments successful caller weeks," he said. "Everything is bully financially."

Textor is besides nan largest shareholder of Brazilian nine Botafogo and presently co-owner of Palace until his woody to waste his liking to New York Jets proprietor Woody Johnson is completed.

"Over nan past fewer months, we person worked intimately pinch nan DNCG, fulfilling each of its requests pinch equity investments that exceeded nan required amounts," Lyon's connection continued.

"Thanks to superior injections from our shareholders and nan waste of Crystal Palace, our rate travel has importantly improved and we now person much than capable financial resources for nan 2025-26 season."

Palace qualified for nan Europa League by winning nan FA Cup but Lyon besides qualified by finishing sixth successful Ligue 1. The French side's higher convention decorativeness intends they would return a European spot astatine Palace's disbursal - should Uefa determine their multi-club ownership rules are being breached.

Last year, six-time Ligue 1 champions Bordeaux had to surrender their master status aft being relegated from Ligue 2 to nan French 4th tier because of bankruptcy.

There remains an aerial of be aware astatine Palace contempt nan important news of Lyon's enforced relegation.

Uefa rules authorities that 2 clubs nether important power of nan aforesaid personification aliases entity cannot compete successful nan aforesaid title and that nan squad pinch nan highest convention decorativeness - Lyon - takes nan spot successful that respective European competition.

The Premier League broadside person insisted to Uefa that Textor has nary power astatine each astatine Selhurst Park, contempt nan American businessman's institution Eagle Football Holdings having a 43.9% stake.

The news that Lyon person been relegated has raised dream astatine Palace that nan rumor will vanish because nan French side, according to sources, will suffer past season's sixth-place finish.

As of Tuesday night, Palace were still awaiting afloat explanation connected what Lyon's relegation intends for their European hopes.

But moreover if nan French shot authorities verify that Lyon's sixth-place decorativeness has now been expunged, Palace will person to hold for a last determination earlier they tin scheme their first task into European football.

Lyon person already confirmed that they intend to entreaty nan decision.

There are concerns astatine nan southbound London nine that moreover if Lyon neglect successful their entreaty pinch nan French league, they will return their conflict moreover further - frankincense prolonging nan agony.

Can Textor and Lyon person nan authorities that they are rectifying their mediocre financial authorities capable to assistance their relegation?

And tin Lyon person their reward delayed until nan appeals processes are complete?

These are questions Palace are apt to beryllium asking themselves.

Then there's nan matter of Nottingham Forest, who guidelines to summation if Palace suffer their Europa League status, and their consequence to Palace keeping their spot successful Uefa's 2nd astir prestigious competition.

There was dream that Palace would person clarity complete their European destiny by nan extremity of this week. They whitethorn now person to hold overmuch longer.