Main Reasons for Relegation

Severe Financial Mismanagement

• The club reported debts exceeding €500 million (or £422 million) including over €160 million in short-term liabilities.
• In November 2024, the DNCG (France's financial watchdog) imposed a provisional relegation and transfer ban due to the absence of a credible financial recovery plan.

Failure to Persuade DNCG Despite Asset Sales

• Lyon sold players like Rayan Cherki, Maxence Caqueret, and others in attempts to reduce losses—but these measures weren’t enough
• Owner John Textor also sold his stake in Crystal Palace and injected funds into Lyon, yet the DNCG found them insufficient

Repeated Audits & Inadequate Results

• The DNCG maintained its stance after audits confirmed Lyon hadn’t achieved satisfactory financial restructuring.
• Despite finishing 6th in Ligue 1 (qualifying for Europa League), the issue was purely financial, not sporting.