John Textor, the former president of Lyon, has once again voiced his strong disapproval of the DNCG (Direction Nationale du Contrôle de Gestion), French football`s financial oversight body. In a statement published on his website, the American entrepreneur, who was recently removed from his leadership role at Lyon, reiterated his skepticism regarding the DNCG`s rulings and the scope of its authority.
Conversely, DNCG president Jean-Marc Mickeler, speaking to L’Equipe, lauded the organization`s interventions, crediting them as the essential “impetus” that ensured Olympique Lyonnais`s continued presence in Ligue 1. The DNCG`s initial decision to uphold a previously imposed administrative relegation to Ligue 2 spurred significant structural reforms within the club, ultimately leading to Textor`s departure and Michele Kang assuming leadership.
Textor contends that the DNCG`s underlying objective was to compel a change in Lyon`s management. He expressed profound disbelief, stating:
I had never anticipated the DNCG deviating so significantly from established principles of “going concern” and financial viability assessments, to impose such a severe judgment on the Lyon community. I believe this was primarily to serve the protectionist aims of certain individuals and to orchestrate a leadership transition at our club.
Furthermore, Textor dismisses the DNCG as merely “a subjective assembly of volunteer business professionals,” with Mickeler at its helm. He asserts that Mickeler, in Textor`s view, “validates the relegation of a club and its supporters based solely on his personal sentiment of `trust.`”
