Lyon‘s American proprietor John Textor was extremely essential of Nasser Al Khelaifi, the Paris Saint-Germain president, and Vincent Labrune, the top of Ligue 1, in an interview for French radio RMC on Monday.
Amongst different barbs about Al Khelaifi’s place, Textor referred to as Labrune PSG’s “lapdog” to focus on the connection between Labrune and Al Khelaifi, who can also be answerable for the BeIn Sport media group.
Textor, who can also be the bulk shareholder of Crystal Palace, Botafogo and Molenbeek, considers the hyperlinks between the 2 males unacceptable due to the battle of curiosity it creates.
“I wasn’t conscious of the safety that comes institutionally. I used to be probably not targeted on the dominance of this one man [Al Khelaifi] on the European membership affiliation, on the chief committee of UEFA” Textor instructed former PSG and France midfielder Jerome Rothen who host in personal radio present on RMC.
“I used to be utterly shocked in July to be within the assembly of the presidents [of Ligue 1] to debate viable alternate options on the TV rights deal and the president of the league [Labrune] who ought to’ve been operating the assembly barely opened his mouth. And Nasser sat there and ran the assembly and shouldn’t have even been within the assembly as a result of he’s an social gathering together with his personal TV channels,” Textor went on to say.
“And each time anyone would increase an alternate concept, Nasser would bark at them and intimidate and bully. And the president of our league simply sat there like a lapdog, did not say something.”
ESPN acquired a press release from PSG in a while Monday, dismissing Textor’s feedback and defending each the membership and Ligue 1.
“It’s a disgrace you can’t purchase class and class as it could have enabled M. Textor to keep away from ridiculing himself by way of his impolite and dense excessiveness in the direction of our President, our establishment and our followers,” the membership stated. “He higher come again to earth, and to France, too, to grasp this league that we love a lot.”
The feud between Textor and Al Khelaifi has been occurring for the reason that summer season. They have by no means seen eye to eye and since he purchased Lyon in June of 2022 and highlighted the battle of curiosity ensuing from Al Khelaifi’s place as the top of BeIn Sport.
“So no I wasn’t conscious that the league was so extremely dominated by this man [Al Khelaifi],” Textor stated. “I used to be not conscious, I consider the affect from PSG on the league and even on the DNCG [the French FFP regulator].”
Ligue 1 additionally issued a press release on Monday responding to the feedback from Textor, which learn partly: “We have been shock to see John Textor’s feedback. We are much more amazed of the phrases utilized by John Textor as [we] had a really cordial dialogue this afternoon.”
PSG beat Lyon 2-1 within the French Cup remaining in 2024 in what was Kylian Mbappé‘s final recreation for the Parisien membership earlier than shifting to Real Madrid.
