Botafogo, the Brazilian club owned by John Textor, confirmed on Saturday that it has filed a lawsuit against Lyon, the former French club of the American businessman, to recover unpaid debts amounting to 125 million euros. “Botafogo filed a lawsuit against Olympique Lyonnais on Friday for debts exceeding 745 million reais,” which is 125 million euros, stated the Brazilian team on its X account.
According to Botafogo, this lawsuit involves several loans granted to OL when John Textor was in charge of both clubs, as well as money movements related to ghost transfers. Replaced in June 2025 at the helm of OL by American businesswoman Michele Kang, Textor was removed from all operational functions within Eagle Bidco, the majority shareholder of OL, the Brazilian club, and the Belgian club Molenbeek, after attempting to regain control of Olympique Lyonnais.
“Eagle Football acquired Olympique Lyonnais in a state of bankruptcy at the end of 2022,” the carioca club stated, “and under the threat of financial sanctions from the National Directorate of Management Control (DNCG),” the body that ensures the proper financial management of French clubs. OL is currently competing for European places in Ligue 1, holding the 4th place in the championship.
Botafogo, which mentions providing financial contributions in the form of loans with the clear expectation of repayment, denounces the unilateral termination 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 facing severe financial difficulties. Once banned from recruiting by FIFA due to a debt related to the transfer of Argentine international Thiago Almada – a sanction lifted last February – the club was also prohibited by the Brazilian courts from selling players at the end of January.
Eagle Football has also been plunged into crisis due to OL’s debts, which nearly led to the club facing administrative relegation last summer. Textor lost operational control of OL in June 2025 to Ares, the fund that paid him 425 million euros to buy the club in 2022. He was removed from his position as director of Eagle Football in late January but remains in charge of Botafogo until further notice.
