Olympique Lyonnais: The seven-time champions of France have been demoted to Ligue 2 due to their inability to resolve financial problems.

Kane ‘loving’ Club World Cup after Bayern’s tough Boca Juniors win – ‘We will sleep well tonight’

In a thrilling encounter, Bayern Munich emerged victorious against Boca Juniors in the Club World Cup, with Harry Kane expressing his delight at the experience. The England striker, who has quickly become a key figure for the Bavarian giants, stated, “We will sleep well tonight,” reflecting the team’s satisfaction after a hard-fought match.

Meanwhile, off the pitch, Lyon finds itself in a precarious situation. The club was handed a provisional relegation in November, contingent on the improvement of its financial situation. If things do not change, they face the prospect of dropping to France’s second tier, along with a payroll cap and recruitment ban.

John Textor, the owner of the Eagle Football Group, which oversees Lyon, has been actively seeking solutions to the club’s financial woes. His proposal to transfer funds from Brazilian club Botafogo, another of his ventures, was turned down. Last October, Textor’s group revealed staggering debts of €505.1 million (£422m).

In a bid to reassure the French football authorities, Textor has employed several financial strategies. He sold his stakes in Crystal Palace and Lyon’s women’s team, and the club also offloaded Rayan Cherki to Manchester City for approximately £35m.

Despite the challenges, Lyon is reportedly preparing to appeal the decision regarding their provisional relegation, with current debts estimated at €175 million (£149m).

After Tuesday’s meeting, Textor remained optimistic about the club’s future. “We are quite satisfied. Everything went as we had planned,” he told reporters. “We liked what happened this year. We brought a lot of money, we did our job. I have enough money to ensure the future.”

While Lyon plans to contest the ruling, an official statement regarding their appeal has yet to be released. The coming weeks will be crucial for the club as they navigate this turbulent period.