The Brazilian club Botafogo, owned by John Textor, confirmed on Saturday that they have filed a complaint against Lyon, the former French club of the American businessman, in order to recover unpaid debts amounting to 125 million euros. “Botafogo filed a lawsuit on Friday against Olympique Lyonnais, due to debts exceeding 745 million reais,” which is 125 million euros, the Brazilian team wrote in a statement. However, they did not specify before which jurisdiction they had brought the case.
According to Botafogo, this complaint relates to several loans granted to OL when John Textor was in charge of both clubs, as well as money movements related to phantom transfers.
Textor removed from OL by shareholders
Replaced in June 2025 at the helm of OL by American businesswoman Michele Kang, Textor was removed at the end of January from all operational functions within Eagle Bidco, the majority shareholder of OL, the Brazilian club, and the Belgian club of Molenbeek, after attempting to regain control of Olympique Lyonnais. “Eagle Football acquired Olympique Lyonnais in a situation of bankruptcy at the end of 2022,” states the press release of the carioca club, “and under the threat of financial sanctions from the National Directorate of Management Control (DNCG),” the body that verifies the proper financial management of French clubs. OL is currently battling for European places in Ligue 1, currently in 4th place in the championship.
Botafogo, which explains that they made “financial contributions in the form of loans, with the clear perspective of repayment,” denounces the “unilateral” breach by Michele Kang of the collaboration agreement between the two clubs. Champion of Brazil and winner of the Copa Libertadores in 2024, Botafogo is now prey to serious financial difficulties.
Temporarily banned from recruiting by FIFA due to a debt related to the transfer of the Argentine international Thiago Almada – a sanction lifted last February – the club was also banned in late January by the Brazilian justice system from selling players.
Eagle Football has also been plunged into crisis due to OL debts, which almost led to the club facing administrative relegation last year. Textor lost operational control of OL in June 2025 in favor of Ares, the fund that had provided him with 425 million euros to buy the club in 2022. He was dismissed at the end of January from his role as director of Eagle Football but remains in charge of Botafogo until further notice.
