Olympique Lyon Maintained in Ligue 1 Following Positive Ruling from French Financial Regulator.

Roger Hampel

Image: Olympique Lyonnais

Olympique Lyonnais has officially confirmed it will remain in Ligue 1 for the upcoming 2025/26 season, following a successful appeal to the DNCG (Direction Nationale du Contrôle de Gestion) – France’s financial regulatory body overseeing professional football.

The decision marks a significant moment for the historic French club, which had faced the risk of administrative relegation to Ligue 2 due to financial concerns and reported debts exceeding several hundred million euros. The club's appeal, however, was upheld by the DNCG’s Commission of Appeal, which recognized the new ownership’s commitment to financial restructuring and long-term sustainability.

Strategic Intervention and Shareholder Support

The speculation around Lyon’s possible relegation emerged in late June after financial scrutiny revealed substantial debt levels. In response, Olympique Lyon activated several measures to reassure regulators and stabilize its financial standing.

One of the more notable interventions came from Paris Saint-Germain, who expedited a full transfer payment for winger Bradley Barcola — a €45 million transaction — to inject immediate liquidity into Lyon's operations. Despite that, the club's financial restructuring needed deeper institutional approval.

The ruling signals confidence in Lyon's revised financial roadmap, which has been led by a new management team and backed by committed shareholders and creditors. The club acknowledged the broad support received from various stakeholders, including players, staff, commercial partners, and local authorities.

A Turning Point for Olympique Lyonnais Olympique Lyon Ligue 1

In an official club statement, Olympique Lyon welcomed the DNCG's ruling, calling it “the first step in restoring trust in the club.” It also expressed gratitude to the Commission of Appeal and emphasized that attention can now shift to on-field preparation for the 2025/26 campaign.

The club added:

“L’Olympique Lyonnais is pleased with today’s decision by the DNCG to allow the Club to remain in Ligue 1. The Commission of Appeal has acknowledged the ambition of the new leadership, committed to ensuring a serious and responsible financial management moving forward.”

This outcome offers a vital reprieve for Lyon, a club that has historically been one of France's most prominent institutions in both sporting and commercial terms. The management’s ability to convince the regulatory body of its revised strategy underlines a new chapter in its governance model and financial discipline.

What’s Next?

With the financial crisis averted, Lyon can now refocus on its sporting ambitions, including squad development, youth investment, and commercial engagement strategies. The upcoming season will be a test not only of on-field performance but of the club's ability to rebuild its credibility and reestablish stability after a turbulent off-season.