Lyon’s American owner John Textor has insisted there is “no chance” the French side will be relegated from Ligue 1. Textor spoke for two hours at a hastily arranged press conference on Saturday in response to Friday’s decision to provisionally relegate the seven-time French champions to Ligue 2.

Seven-time French champion Lyon risks relegation to the second tier at the end of the season and has been hit with a transfer ban because of financial irregularities.

Olympique Lyon faces provisional relegation to Ligue 2 by DNCG over financial irregularities, with a transfer ban and salary oversight imposed. Owner John Textor remains optimistic about avoiding demotion as the club races to resolve its financial crisis.

French giants Lyon have been handed a provisional relegation to Ligue 2 and hit with a transfer ban. This comes after the Direction Nationale du Control de Gestion (DNCG) conducted an audit of the club’s finances.