Paris St-Germain (PSG) has issued a legal threat to Lyon owner John Textor, demanding he cease making what they consider “defamatory and damaging statements” about their club. The French champions felt compelled to react after Textor’s interview with Brazilian outlet Globo, where he criticized PSG’s financial practices.
In the interview, Textor, who also owns stakes in Premier League club Crystal Palace and is a major shareholder in Lyon through his Eagle Football Holdings group, claimed he was competing against “a country, not an owner.” He described PSG as a “model of unrestrained spending, without limitations.”
PSG, which has been majority-owned by Qatar Sports Investments since 2011, rebuked Textor’s remarks in a letter signed by their general secretary, Victoriano Melero. The club labeled Textor’s comments as “false, incendiary, undignified, and nonsensical.”
The letter addressed several of Textor’s claims, highlighting their inaccuracies. PSG pointed out that Textor’s assertion of PSG’s “unbridled spending without restrictions” ignores Lyon’s own financial issues under his management. The French football financial watchdog, DNCG, had placed restrictions on Lyon’s transfers and wage bill last year, only lifting them after approving Lyon’s new budget in December.
PSG also referenced Textor’s previous criticism of Premier League spending rules. They noted that a significant portion of PSG’s ownership is American, specifically by US investor Arctos, and that less than 20% of their commercial revenue comes from Qatari companies. The club emphasized they have signed 50 new partners in the last six years, with only one being a Qatari brand.
PSG concluded the letter by warning Textor that if he continues with his “defamatory and damaging statements,” they would be compelled to take further legal action in France. This would add to Textor’s existing legal challenges in Brazil, where he is the majority shareholder of Botafogo. In Brazil, Textor faces a legal case for accusations of corruption and match-fixing, claims dismissed by domestic football authorities but reiterated by Textor in his Globo interview.