Botafogo and John Textor plan legal action against Olympique Lyonnais over unpaid debts | OneFootball

Botafogo, led by John Textor, plans to launch legal action against Olympique Lyonnais to recover unpaid sums. OL declined to comment.

The move comes amid upheaval at Eagle Football, owner of both clubs. A Brazilian court froze Eagle’s Botafogo stake in late July, keeping Textor in place. According to O Globo, the club’s controlling association is seeking an investor to oust him as debts have surged.

Botafogo has already issued proceedings against Eagle Football and intends to pursue OL to recoup money it considers due. The complaint centres on alleged phantom transfers in July 2024 from Botafogo to Lyon.

Luiz Henrique and Igor Jesus were flagged for Lyon during Textor’s tenure from May 2023 to June 2025, but joined Zenit Saint Petersburg and Nottingham Forest.

Textor now maintains Botafogo covered Lyon’s losses. The club has been barred from registering players since 31 December over a debt linked to the transfer of Thiago Almada, and a court also blocked sales at the end of January.

Eagle Football has been dragged into crisis by OL’s debts, which nearly caused administrative relegation last summer. Textor lost operational control in June 2025 to Ares, which lent him €425 million in 2022. He was removed as Eagle’s director at the end of January but remains in charge at Botafogo.

Source: Le Progres