Zapping Foot National Interview – The underside of amateur football, with Romain Molina
The thunderclap of the DNCG was not the only one. Barely the announcement of the formalized Ligue 2 relegation, John Textor must now face a new storm. Three investors who participated in the takeover of OL the summary of returning to them $ 93.6 million, or around 79.6 million euros. And they only left the US businessman for a few days to run. It was the Financial Times that revealed the information. Jamie Dinan, American billionaire and co-owner of the Milwaukee Bucks (NBA), accompanied by Alexander Knaster and Edward Eisler, sent a letter to Textor to demand the acquisition of their shares in Eagle Football Holding, the OL parent company, Botafogo or Molenbeek. According to them, this financial commitment stems from an agreement signed during the acquisition of the club at the end of 2022.
Ares has lent more than 400 million
At the time, the three men had invested $ 75 million via their Iconic Sports Management fund. This amount was to contribute to a merger operation between Eagle Football and a specific acquisition company (SPAC), controlled by Iconic. The merger has never succeeded, investors claim to have exercised an option to be reimbursed … without success. The tension went up a notch this week. With the relegation of OL, these creditors today want to recover their bets, including interests. They are now claiming nearly $ 94 million and threaten to bring the case to court if the amount is not paid to them by July 2.
John Textor does not flex. He acknowledges having received the formal notice but disputes any obligation. According to his declarations, Iconic investors would not have “respected their initial commitments” and do not have the contractual rights which they now invoke. The financial context around OL does not help. Already under pressure from his main creditor, Ares Management – who has lent him more than $ 400 million for the buyout of the club -, Textor sees the doors close. Especially since the steps to try to maintain Ligue 1 are far from being won.
OL: Three investors demand 80 million euros from John Textor
While Olympique Lyonnais has just been downgraded to Ligue 2 by the DNCG, John Textor faces another crisis: three investors threaten to prosecute him if he does not reimburse them almost 80 million euros before July 2.
