Lyon’s American owner John Textor has insisted there is “no chance” the French side will be relegated from Ligue 1. Textor spoke for two hours at a hastily arranged press conference on Saturday in response to Friday’s decision to provisionally relegate the seven-time French champions to Ligue 2.

Seven-time French champion Lyon risks relegation to the second tier at the end of the season and has been hit with a transfer ban because of financial irregularities.

The American billionaire was open in his interest to buy Everton, but is currently dealing with huge financial problems at Lyon