PSG won the championship before the ball even rolled

The penalty Lyon received is just a consequence of the dire financial situation of Ligue 1 clubs over the past many years.

PSG are too strong for the rest of Ligue 1.

On the morning of June 25, the National Management Control Commission (DNCG) through the French Professional Football League (LFP) confirmed that Lyon was demoted to Ligue 2 due to its inability to resolve serious financial problems. This decision was made after Lyon failed to meet the financial standards set by the DNCG.

Ligue 1 goes down

With an estimated debt of more than €400 million and high operating costs, Lyon are in dire financial straits. They have the right to appeal within 10 days, but their chances of success are slim, especially since cases like Bordeaux (demotion to the fourth division in 2024) and Sochaux (demotion to the third division in 2023) have both failed.

If the appeal fails, Lyon will be replaced by Reims in Ligue 1 for the 2025/26 season, marking the first time the team has played in Ligue 2 since 1989. According to L'Équipe , Lyon's punishment is just the tip of the iceberg in Ligue 1's financial mess.

Other clubs such as Monaco, Nantes and Paris FC, also under financial supervision by the DNCG, were fortunate to meet the requirements before the deadline to avoid punishment. The danger for them remains.

Lyon's ban and Monaco's financial woes have further cemented Paris Saint-Germain's dominance of Ligue 1. PSG have dominated the competition since being bought by Qatar Sports Investments in 2011, winning 13 Ligue 1 titles, including the 2024/25 season, and a record 49 domestic trophies.

Notably, the 2024/25 season will see PSG win the title with a 19-point lead over second-placed Marseille. Even Marseille, PSG’s biggest rival in Ligue 1 next season, is facing financial difficulties. Lyon president John Textor has criticized PSG’s model, saying that its owner Qatar Sports Investments “violates European law” and “distorts competition” in Ligue 1.

Textor's argument is not unreasonable, because not every team in Europe is pumped with huge amounts of money from Qatar like PSG. If PSG is like a rich guy living in a villa and driving a luxury car, then the rest of Ligue 1 has to "run for every meal".

Marseille, despite finishing second last season under Roberto De Zerbi, still lag behind PSG in squad depth. Monaco and Lille rely heavily on player sales to balance their books, while newly promoted teams Lorient, Metz and Paris FC are unlikely to cause a surprise.

Lyon's relegation is a shock to Ligue 1.

According to Opta 's prediction , PSG is almost certain to win Ligue 1 2025/26 with a rate of 90%, while Marseille has only a 7% chance of winning the championship, Monaco has a 3%. This reflects the "one-sided" reality of Ligue 1, which has been criticized as PSG's own tournament.

Harsh reality

PSG's dominance comes not only from its financial superiority, with a revenue of 806 million euros (third in the world according to Deloitte) and a team value of 4.4 billion USD (seventh according to Forbes), but also from its strategy of transforming the team model.

After parting ways with superstars like Kylian Mbappe, Neymar and Lionel Messi, coach Luis Enrique built a balanced squad, based on young players like Bradley Barcola, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Vitinha.

PSG's biggest success in 2025 was winning the UEFA Champions League, beating Inter Milan 5-0 in the final - the biggest win in European Cup final history.

This achievement not only strengthens PSG's position on the international stage but also contrasts sharply with its domestic rivals. With Lyon's collapse, Ligue 1 in the 2025/26 season is likely to lose a traditional rival that has challenged PSG.

Lyon are the only team in history to win seven consecutive titles (2002-2008), and although they have not been at their peak since then, they still pose a potential threat to PSG. Lyon's relegation would weaken Ligue 1 and damage the reputation of French football on the international stage.

Lyon are not only one of the five clubs with the most Ligue 1 titles (7, behind PSG, Saint-Étienne, Marseille and Monaco), they also have the most successful women's team in the world with 18 French championships and 8 Champions Leagues.

The administrative relegation of such a richly-regarded club raises concerns about the financial sustainability of French clubs. What will happen to Ligue 1 when TV rights revenues are dwindling and sponsors are gradually turning away?

Is PSG's success all that matters to French football?

PSG confidently entered the round of 16 of the FIFA Club World Cup. In the early morning of June 24, PSG defeated Seattle Sounders 2-0 to win first place in Group B of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™.

Source: https://znews.vn/psg-vo-dich-tu-khi-bong-chua-lan-post1563574.html