Botafogo achieved an important legal victory against Lyon this Wednesday. Justiça of Estado of Rio of Janeiro ordered the French club to pay 21 million euros to Alvinegro. The amount is equivalent to approximately R$122.3 million at the current price. The decision establishes a deadline of just three days to fulfill the financial obligation.
Esta is the first ruling in favor of the Rio club in the midst of a billion-dollar dispute involving the Eagle Football multi-club network. The process, which is being processed in the 17th Vara Cível of Comarca of Capital, focuses on three transfers of athletes carried out in March 2025. At the time, the clubs operated under a single cash system, a model that was discontinued after changes in the management of the holding company.
Prazo exiguous and extrajudicial execution rite
The sentence handed down by judge Leonardo of Castro Gomes classifies the contract between the parties as a title for extrajudicial execution. Essa’s legal nature allows charging to occur quickly, without the need for a long preliminary knowledge phase. Lyon has, from the official notification, 15 working days to file embargoes or challenges to the imposed measure.
Caso the French club opts for installments, Brazilian legislation requires the immediate deposit of 30% of the total amount of the debt. The remainder could be paid in up to six monthly installments, as long as authorized by the responsible magistrate. Botafogo bases its strategy on an intra-group loan agreement signed in February 2025. The document provided for the free circulation of resources of up to 100 million euros between the network’s teams.
Brazilian Jurisdição and internal breakout in Eagle Football
SAF alvinegra’s lawyers argue that Justiça of Rio of Janeiro is the competent forum to judge the case. Segundo the argument was initially accepted, the French agreed to this jurisdiction at the time of signing the financial agreements. Lyon, based at Europa, has previously attempted to take similar discussions to international courts, but the local ruling keeps the focus on Brasil.
- Lyon must pay R$122.3 million (21 million euros).
- Prazo determined payment is three business days.
- Ação refers to three transfers from March 2025.
- Valor Total disputes between clubs reach R$745 million.
- John Textor lost control of the subsidiary that owns the clubs in Inglaterra.
Relations between the institutions deteriorated rapidly after June 2025. John Textor left direct command of Lyon and new controllers took over management at França. The movement generated a ripple effect that included attempts to remove the American businessman from commanding Botafogo. Atualmente, Lyon also has a lawsuit against the Rio team at Fifa due to the purchase of striker Jeffinho.
Conflitos management and risk of removal from Textor
The instability scenario at Eagle Football reached its peak with the appointment of judicial administrators by the English Justiça in March. The measure removed Textor’s powers from Eagle Bidco, the arm that controls the group’s sports properties. Embora Although the day-to-day management of Botafogo was not directly affected by the British decision, the businessman faces another legal front on national territory.
Um Tribunal Arbitral from Fundação Getúlio Vargas (FGV) analyzes a process that could result in the removal of Textor from command of SAF Botafoguense. The American accuses Michelle Kang and the Ares group of working against his interests and provoking sanctions such as the transfer ban. The financial dispute of R$ 122 million represents only a portion of the R$ 745 million that Alvinegro is seeking in common justice against the former French ally.
