PSG Threaten Legal Action Over Lyon Owner's Remarks

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) has issued a stern warning to Lyon owner John Textor, threatening legal action if he does not cease making what they consider "defamatory and damaging statements" about the club. The conflict arose from an interview Textor gave to Brazilian publication Globo, where he criticized PSG's financial operations.

Textor, who controls Lyon through his Eagle Football Holdings group and is also a major shareholder in Crystal Palace, remarked that competing against PSG was akin to competing against "a country, not an owner," accusing PSG of "unbridled spending without restrictions."

PSG, majority-owned by Qatar Sports Investments since 2011, responded sharply. In a letter signed by the club's general secretary, Victoriano Melero, PSG labeled Textor's comments as "false, incendiary, undignified, and nonsensical." The letter also pointed out that Lyon itself had faced financial scrutiny under Textor's management, with restrictions imposed by the DNCG, France's financial watchdog for football.

The letter further noted that Textor had previously criticized the Premier League's financial regulations. PSG emphasized that only a small portion of their revenue comes from Qatari sources and highlighted their diverse sponsorship portfolio, which includes numerous non-Qatari brands.

PSG concluded by stating that if Textor continues his "defamatory and damaging statements," the club will pursue legal action in France, adding to Textor's existing legal challenges in Brazil, where he is involved in lawsuits concerning accusations of corruption and match-fixing.

The dispute underscores the tensions and complexities in the financial and competitive landscapes of European football, with PSG standing firm against what they view as unjustified attacks on their operational model.