The struggle for control over the Eagle Football network of clubs escalated with a failed attempt by Lyon’s new controllers, led by South Korean Michele Kang, to remove American businessman John Textor from managing Botafogo and other clubs in the holding. On July 17, 2025, a move by the French side aimed to oust Textor from the entire Eagle management, including the Brazilian club and Belgium’s Molenbeek, but was blocked by a letter of support from Botafogo’s associative body. The action, amid financial and corporate tensions, reinforces Textor’s position, who now plans to establish a new company in the Cayman Islands to manage his assets, including Botafogo. This follows Textor’s resignation from Lyon’s presidency on June 30, 2025, when Michele Kang took over the French club. The rift between Lyon and Botafogo, once close partners, appears irreversible, while Textor seeks to consolidate his influence in Brazilian and global football.
The clash between Textor and Lyon’s new managers reflects a broader conflict within Eagle Football, the holding company controlling clubs like Botafogo, Lyon, Molenbeek, and, until recently, Crystal Palace. The attempt to sideline Textor stemmed from dissatisfaction with his financial management, particularly after uncovering alleged financial mismanagement at Lyon. Michele Kang, an Eagle shareholder and president of Lyon’s women’s team since 2023, took the helm of the French club with support from the Ares investment fund, which financed Textor’s 2022 Lyon acquisition. The National Directorate of Management Control (DNCG) decision on July 9, 2025, to keep Lyon in Ligue 1 bolstered Kang’s position, who declared she had “100% operational control” over the club.
- Key points of the conflict:
- Lyon controllers’ attempt to exclude Textor from all Eagle clubs.
- Resistance from Botafogo’s associative body, led by João Paulo Magalhães Lins.
- Creation of a new company in the Cayman Islands by Textor.
- Breakdown in Botafogo-Lyon relations.
The crisis exposes the fragility of the multi-club model, which faces regulatory and financial challenges, while Textor seeks new paths to maintain his influence over Botafogo.
Origin of the Eagle Football crisis
The disagreement between John Textor and Lyon’s controllers stems from financial and strategic issues. When Textor acquired 77.49% of Lyon in 2022 for approximately €884 million, the Ares fund provided much of the capital. However, the loan remains unpaid, creating tensions with creditors. Textor’s management was criticized for alleged resource transfers from Lyon to other Eagle clubs, like Botafogo, contributing to the French club’s precarious financial situation, which nearly led to relegation to Ligue 2 in 2024.
Michele Kang, who emerged as a central figure at Lyon after Textor’s resignation, conducted an audit of the club’s accounts. The process revealed what shareholders called “financial mismanagement,” intensifying the desire to sever ties with the American. Kang, known for her background in healthcare technology, assumed Lyon’s presidency and Eagle Football Group’s leadership, promising a more transparent and centralized management.
The attempt to remove Textor from the holding relied on analyzing old contracts that could allow his exclusion. However, the plan hit legal barriers and Botafogo’s associative support, which holds a minority stake in the club’s SAF (Sociedade Anônima do Futebol).
Unwavering Botafogo support
Botafogo’s response was swift and decisive. Led by president João Paulo Magalhães Lins, the club’s associative council signed a letter in the early hours of July 18, 2025, expressing unwavering support for Textor. The document, sent to Eagle Football, solidified the American’s role as a central figure in the club’s project.
João Paulo Magalhães Lins was emphatic in defending Textor, highlighting his importance to Botafogo. He stated that the businessman “belongs to the club” and that any attempt to remove him would be seen as an attack on the institution. The letter had the backing of figures like Durcesio Mello, former president, and André Silva, vice-president, strengthening Botafogo’s unity around Textor.
Botafogo’s SAF, established in 2022 after Textor acquired 90% of its shares, requires the associative club’s approval for significant changes. This corporate structure was crucial in blocking Lyon’s maneuver, ensuring Textor remained in charge of the club’s football operations.
New company in the Cayman Islands
Facing pressure from Lyon’s controllers, Textor announced the creation of a new company in the Cayman Islands to manage Botafogo, Molenbeek, and other assets, such as the Florida project, which remains undisclosed in detail. The move aims to protect his interests and ensure greater autonomy in managing clubs outside the influence of the Eagle Football Group, now dominated by Kang and Ares.
The choice of the Cayman Islands, known for its favorable legislation for international holdings, reflects Textor’s strategy to reorganize his investments. The new company, named Eagle Football Group (distinct from the current holding), will manage the clubs independently, reducing conflicts with Lyon’s shareholders.
- Objectives of the new company:
- Ensure Textor’s control over Botafogo and Molenbeek.
- Protect assets from potential legal or financial actions by Lyon.
- Facilitate future acquisitions, such as a new club in England.
This structure marks a significant step in the separation between Textor and Lyon, signaling the end of any operational collaboration between the clubs.
Breakdown in Botafogo-Lyon relations
Before the conflict, Botafogo and Lyon maintained close ties, frequently exchanging player and market strategy information. Transfers like Jeffinho’s move from the Brazilian to the French club exemplified this synergy. However, the corporate crisis ended this cooperation.
Currently, there is no direct communication between the two clubs, with a clear trend toward snyde toward permanent separation. Kang’s management at Lyon implemented a strict financial control model, centralizing resources and eliminating inter-club transfers. This shift contrasts with Textor’s vision of an integrated system with shared resources across Eagle clubs.
The rupture also reflects philosophical differences. While Kang prioritizes Lyon’s financial stability and independence, Textor focuses on an expansive model, investing in new markets like Brazil and England.
Textor’s new alliances
Amid the Lyon crisis, Textor has grown closer to Evangelos Marinakis, owner of Nottingham Forest, Olympiakos, and Rio Ave. This partnership led to recent transfers, such as Jair, Igor Jesus, and Danilo to Botafogo. The relationship with Marinakis suggests Textor is seeking strategic allies to strengthen his position in the global football market.
On July 18, 2025, Textor used social media to celebrate Botafogo’s signings, emphasizing the freedom to operate “without shackles” in Brazil. The message, seen as a jab at Lyon, reinforces his focus on Botafogo and new projects, like a potential club acquisition in England.
Fan and council reactions
The attempt to oust Textor sparked strong reactions at Botafogo. Fans and associative council members rallied in his defense, viewing him as key to the club’s recent success, including the 2024 Brasileirão and Libertadores titles. The letter sent to Eagle was a milestone in this support, solidifying Textor’s leadership in the club’s project.
- Figures who signed the letter:
- João Paulo Magalhães Lins, associative club president.
- Durcesio Mello, former Botafogo president.
- André Silva, vice-president.
This mobilization highlights the strong bond between Textor and Botafogo, a cornerstone of his football strategy.
History of tensions at Lyon
The relationship between Textor and Lyon had been deteriorating before the exclusion attempt. In November 2024, the DNCG announced Lyon’s provisional relegation to Ligue 2 due to financial irregularities. Although the decision was reversed in July 2025, criticism of Textor’s management intensified. Kang’s audit revealed resource transfers to other Eagle clubs, like Botafogo, fueling discontent among shareholders and creditors.
Textor’s sale of Crystal Palace shares in June 2025 to Woody Johnson, owner of the New York Jets, was seen as an attempt to ease financial pressure. However, it failed to resolve conflicts with Kang and Ares, who sought greater control over the holding.
Textor’s future in football
With the new Cayman Islands company, Textor signals his intent to keep Botafogo at the core of his football strategy. The club, a 2024 Brasileirão and Libertadores champion, is a success story under his management. Textor also plans to expand his influence in England, negotiating a new club acquisition after selling his Crystal Palace stake.
He retains control of Molenbeek, rebranded as Daring Brussels, and explores opportunities in the U.S. with the Florida project. These moves indicate that, despite tensions with Lyon, Textor has ambitious plans in global football.
Impact on the multi-club model
The Eagle Football crisis raises questions about the multi-club model’s viability. Integrating clubs from different continents, like Botafogo, Lyon, and Molenbeek, faced regulatory, financial, and cultural challenges. The Lyon-Botafogo split highlights the difficulty of maintaining cohesive management in a system reliant on aligned shareholder and management interests.
Textor, however, seems determined to adapt his model, focusing on markets offering greater operational freedom, like Brazil. The new Cayman Islands company is a step in this direction, allowing him to manage clubs without Lyon’s or the DNCG’s constraints.