Lyon have been handed a provisional relegation to Ligue 2, the second division of French football, and will observe a transfer ban following an audit of their finances. The Direction Nationale du Controle de Gestion (DNCG,

Lyon, who are predominantly owned by Crystal Palace shareholder John Textor of the Eagle Football Group, splashed out £150 million on new recruits in the summer window.

French club Olympique Lyonnais cannot make any signings in the January transfer window and will be relegated from Ligue 1 at the end of the season if they are unable to address financial mismanagement.