Olympique Lyonnais have been ordered by a court in Rio de Janeiro to pay Botafogo €21 million within three days, according to a report from Brazilian outlet Globo Esporte. The ruling stems from a long-running financial dispute between the two clubs, linked to the period when American businessman John Textor was in charge at Lyon. Textor is now the president of Botafogo.
The €21 million payment is only a fraction of the total sum under dispute. Botafogo estimates the full value of the litigation at €128 million. The Brazilian club had previously filed a complaint alleging a unilateral breach of contract concerning financial contributions and loans agreed between the two entities, with a clear expectation of repayment.
According to Botafogo's claims, these contracts were not honored following the arrival of Michele Kang as Lyon's new majority owner, leading to the alleged breach. This situation has had significant consequences for Botafogo, resulting in FIFA imposing a transfer ban on the club for 2025. The dispute highlights the complex, ongoing financial entanglements left from Textor's multi-club network, which also includes stakes in Crystal Palace and RWD Molenbeek.
For Lyon, currently third in Ligue 1, the court order represents an unwelcome off-field distraction and a substantial financial liability. The club must now decide whether to pay the immediate €21 million judgment or pursue further legal avenues. The larger €128 million claim from Botafogo also looms, potentially threatening Lyon's financial planning for future transfer windows.
The case underscores the legal and sporting risks associated with multi-club ownership models and complex inter-club financing. With John Textor now leading the club pursuing the claim, the dispute has turned into a direct legal confrontation between Lyon's current and former ownership structures. The outcome will be closely watched by other clubs engaged in similar multi-club partnerships.
