According to Bloomberg’s economic news website, John Textor, former OL president, is facing a lawsuit brought in London by Iconic Sports. This action stems from the failure of a merger between Iconic Sports and Eagle Football Holdings, under an agreement originally planned for 2023. Iconic Sports claims €80 million, accusing John Textor of distorting the viability of their PSPC and obstructing legal proceedings to recover their investment rights. Textor, for its part, filed a complaint with a US federal court, accusing Iconic Sports and its financiers of market fraud, notably due to past relations between the Russian billionaire Mikhail Fridman and the Swiss bank UBS Group AG.

This financial conflict dates back to the purchase of OL by John Textor at the end of 2022, where Iconic Sports had a sales option allowing it to recover its investment rights if it did not realize the merger with Eagle before April 2023. Despite the passage of time, the dispute persists and seems far from resolved. The outcome of this case is all the more crucial for OL as it intervenes at a critical moment for the club, which must know the DNACG verdict on Wednesday regarding its future in Ligue 1.

This day of 9 July 2025 is decisive for OL, as it could seal its fate in Ligue 1, its professional future and its participation in the Europa League. The agreement with UEFA, which guarantees a place in Europe in case of validation of the sanction by the DNACG, is conditional on the club remaining in League 1. If the DNACG Appeal Board validates the sanction, OL could appeal to the NOCSF and the Administrative Court to defend its rights. The challenge is therefore twofold: to ensure the survival of the club in Ligue 1 while maintaining its place in European competition.