French FA upholds sanctions on Olympique Lyonnais in appeal hearing | OneFootball

According to a report by L’Équipe, the French FA’s appeals committee has decided to uphold sanctions imposed on Olympique Lyonnais given to the club in November. This includes the transfer ban originally issued by French football’s financial watchdog, the DNCG which was confirmed following a hearing on Friday morning. The threat of relegation to Ligue 2 was not part of the appeal process. OL’s executives, including general director Laurent Prud’homme and club President John Textor made their case to the commission. L’Équipe say that their arguments were based on evidence aiming to show recent financial inflows, as OL sought to prove that the penalties that hit the club were overly severe. Textor is in the process of selling his shares in Premier League club Crystal Palace, with a US-Saudi consortium entering an exclusivity agreement with the owner of the Eagle Football Group to purchase his 46% of the club.Les Gones are also in the process of selling players. Nigerian forward Gift Orban has already made the switch to Bundesliga side Hoffenheim, with long-time goalkeeper Anthony Lopes joining FC Nantes. It was reported today that midfielder Maxence Caqueret is close to a move to Serie A side Como, after the two clubs agreed upon a €17m deal for the the France U21 international. Olympique Lyonnais are set to react in the evening with a communiqué, according to L’Équipe‘s Hugo Guillemet. The crucial deadline for the club, however, will be at the end of the season in the next meeting with the DNCG. That meeting will decide whether or not Lyon will stay in Ligue 1.GFFN | George Boxall