Seven-time French champions Olympique Lyonnais have successfully overturned their relegation to Ligue 2 and will retain their place in the top flight for the 2025/26 season, the French Football Federation (FFF) confirmed on Wednesday, MySportDab Reports.
Lyon had been demoted last month by French football’s financial watchdog, the DNCG, due to ongoing financial concerns. The club had been under budgetary restrictions since November, and the relegation ruling sparked widespread concern among fans.
However, following a successful appeal, Lyon will not only remain in Ligue 1 but will also compete in the UEFA Europa League next season.
The FFF stated that Lyon must implement financial reforms, including reducing their wage bill and curbing transfer spending.
The club has already made strides in that direction, releasing senior players such as Alexandre Lacazette and Anthony Lopes, and selling key talents Rayan Cherki to Manchester City and Maxence Caqueret to Como.
The appeal win comes just weeks after Michele Kang, already president of Lyon’s women’s team, assumed leadership of the men’s club from American businessman John Textor. Kang becomes the second-largest shareholder and now takes the reins as president.
“Today’s decision constitutes the first step of re-establishing trust in Lyon,” the club said in a statement, expressing gratitude to the appeals commission and faith in its new leadership’s ambitions.
Textor, who acquired Lyon in 2022 and had overseen an era of financial turbulence, recently sold his stake in Crystal Palace and confirmed his Eagle Football group injected €83 million into Lyon.
The club finished sixth in Ligue 1 last season under interim management, securing European qualification. Lyon begin pre-season preparations this week, with their Ligue 1 opener scheduled away at RC Lens between August 15 and 17.
