To save OL, Textor plays a dangerous game

Olympique Lyonnais finds itself at a decisive turning point in its history, and its main shareholder, John Textor, seems ready to use all the cards at his disposal to avoid administrative demotion to Ligue 2. The latest episode? A controversial transfer involving the Brazilian Luiz Henrique, which raises questions about the legality and ethics of the financial practices implemented to replenish the coffers of the Rhone club.

An indirect transfer, but with serious consequences

Luiz Henrique, Botafogo attacking midfielder, was recently sold to Zenit Saint Petersburg for an amount of around 35 million euros. An operation which, at first glance, has no link with Olympique Lyonnais. However, as Le Progrès reveals, this transaction could well directly benefit OL. How ? Thanks to the multi-ownership of clubs owned by John Textor, shareholder of both OL and Botafogo. The principle is simple: the money from the transfer passes through the joint holding company before “trimming” towards Lyon, in great financial difficulty.

The problem ? This mechanism flirts dangerously with the rules laid down by FIFA, particularly with regard to the transparency of financial flows between clubs belonging to the same owner.

A process considered vague and contested

According to Florent Bergmann, sports economist interviewed by Le Progrès, this type of operation raises numerous legal questions:

“We can guess that this operation will go back to the holding company before going back down to OL. This strategy remains unclear and could be difficult to explain with regard to company rights. »

Since the ban on TPO (third party ownership) by FIFA, this type of financial arrangement has been scrutinized with particular attention. Although legal on its face, it reveals a gray area that could attract the attention of regulators.

A financial emergency for Textor

The economic context of OL explains the urgency of these maneuvers. With a deficit estimated at 175 million euros, the club is under threat of administrative demotion pronounced by the DNCG. By playing with the limits of the system, John Textor hopes to avoid this disaster scenario.

But this strategy could backfire if the authorities were to consider that the money injected into OL does not respect the rules in force. A situation which perfectly illustrates the difficulties of a model based on multiple ownership, where the lines between clubs become increasingly blurred.

In the meantime, Lyon supporters hope that this “dangerous game” will bear fruit, allowing the club to save itself without further compromising its future.