During the press conference he hosted in the middle of the day on Saturday, OL owner John Textor did not spare the DNCG, regretting in particular that the concerns expressed by the financial policeman of French football had not remained confidential .
Between John Textor and the DNCG, it's not mad love. Firstly because the financial policeman of French football decided on Friday to relegate OL as a precautionary measure, pending a clear recovery of the accounts. But also because the Lyon president believes that the DNCG method leaves something to be desired.
“Having the DNCG tell me how to manage my business seems awkward to me,” the American explained at a press conference this Saturday. “In the past, there was confidentiality. I don't know why this was handled differently. We didn't get an official letter, they just told us that they didn't understand certain figures and I think we responded to them in the right way. Now, it's so severe… We are surprised that this opinion has not remained confidential. Was it necessary?”
“They are not experts on the New York Stock Exchange”
Since the DNCG in theory only sent a warning to OL, the club president would have liked the matter to be handled differently. “We didn't get an official letter, they just told us that they didn't understand certain figures and I think we responded to them in the right way,” he explains. Textor therefore detailed the figures which show, according to him, that OL will be in the lead by the end of the season.
In the meantime, Olympique Lyonnais is subject to the decision of the DNCG. “It was explained to us in an e-mail that we cannot appeal on transfers and payroll. And we cannot appeal on a warning. But was it necessary to communicate it to the press and to not keep this information confidential?”
The American finished with one last tackle. “At the DNCG, there are intelligent people but they work in a system and do not want to look at what we are doing on a global scale. The DNCG has to digest a lot of figures in a very short time. And even “They are experts in their field, they are not experts on the New York Stock Exchange,” he said. However, OL must submit to the DNCG, like all elite clubs. Whether Textor likes it or not.
