Since the stunning Olympico lost (2-3) in an incredible manner at home, a dynamic has paradoxically started on the Lyon side. The three successes in a row before hosting FC Nantes this Sunday (3 p.m.) in Ligue 1, even offer a semblance of serenity to Pierre Sage within OL. However, more than 200 supporters strongly criticized their club during this period, due to a message posted by Olympique Lyonnais on its X account (formerly Twitter) on September 27.
The short text was intended to be positive: “Abner, Luiz Henrique, Igor Jesus, the Eagle galaxy well represented in Selecao”. But this is symbolically the first time, since John Textor took power in Lyon in December 2022, that a message on social networks brings together OL (where Abner plays) and Botafogo (team of Luiz Henrique and Igor Jesus), highlighting Eagle Football, the American holding company owning these two clubs (as well as Molenbeek in Belgian D2).
“As many hours for OL as for my other clubs”
In addition to numerous insulting posts reacting to the selection of these players with Brazil A, we could note in the responses this type of reproach: “Our heart beats for OL, not for Eagle. Never sacrifice our identity in front of a group” or “I fell in love with OL when I was 6, I’m 37 and I don’t give a damn about Botafogo or Eagle”. If the reactions of Lyon supporters were much less hostile on Instagram and TikTok, such an episode clearly shows the extent to which multi-ownership in football is a divisive subject at Parc OL. It also shows that despite OL’s a priori indisputable status as a flagship club within Eagle, some Lyon fans wonder if John Textor’s favorite team is not Botafogo, acquired in March 2022.
“OL was already very structured in terms of football, and they did not need me on a day-to-day basis as much as Botafogo,” the American businessman responded on this subject during his last press conference in Lyon. on September 11. People may think that I love Botafogo above all, but I devote as many hours to OL as to my other clubs. I see them as families helping each other, and the fans here are starting to understand the benefits of this collaboration. » In fact, almost two years after the formalization of the takeover of OL, the groups of Lyon supporters have not sought to get closer to their counterparts from Botafogo, nor those from Molenbeek for that matter.
“I have absolutely nothing to do with Botafogo”
“It especially bothered me to read last year that OL could help finance the new Botafogo training center,” says Richard, a season ticket holder for the south turn at Décines. In addition, it corresponded to a period when Textor never came to Lyon while we were relegated. Otherwise, I don’t care at all about Botafogo, and I don’t think anyone in Lyon will be happy if this club wins the Copa Libertadores. In fact, I don’t even know if he’s competing in this competition…”
And if, qualified last week on penalties against Sao Paulo, Botafogo will challenge Penarol (Uruguay) in the semi-final on October 24 and 31, with the dream of winning a first continental coronation. Mehdi (19 years old), who has not missed a Botafogo match since the club’s return to Serie A in November 2021, runs the Botafogo France account on X (more than 3,100 subscribers). Residing in Toulouse after eight years… in Lyon, he perceives on social networks “an interest from many Lyon supporters to better know Botafogo players likely to join OL”.
“Fucking corruption” denounced on the lawn
Because after Jeffinho, Lucas Perri and Adryelson, Argentine attacking midfielder Thiago Almada (23 years old) and Brazilian right winger Luiz Henrique (23 years old) could go to OL from the next winter transfer window, in an already crowded offensive sector. “I realize that this multi-ownership is rather frowned upon among Lyon supporters,” continues this BTS international business student. But you have to understand that the story is a little older with Botafogo than with Lyon, and that Rio de Janeiro is closer than Lyon to Florida, where John Textor lives. »
This is how the most striking video sequences at the edge of the American owner’s field took place at the Nilton Santos Olympic stadium and not at Parc OL. We obviously think of his interview, in November 2023, to denounce “fucking corruption” after the refereeing controversy which accompanied the defeat of his team against the rival Palmeiras (3-4), but also his improvised football game, with cap on. upside down, in his stadium after another match against Palmeiras (2-1) in the Copa Libertadores in August.
Likewise, his Instagram account relays Botafogo news more than that of OL. “I am more active on social networks in Brazil because we accept more things there,” explained the US businessman during his back-to-school press conference in Lyon. You can post whatever you want there, it’s forgotten the next day. In France, you are far too critical so I refrain from publishing certain messages here. »
Timeshare, “a wonderful thing”
A fan of Botafogo “since birth”, the Brazilian Pedro H. Soares (35), who lives in Texas, understands this form of jealousy in the Lyon camp: “It is true that John Textor physically spent more time with Botafogo than Lyon. He had to put more effort and energy into figuring out how to get this huge club on the verge of bankruptcy back into the fight for titles. But I saw how he celebrated qualifying for the Europa League with Lyon, and it reminds us that it is in his interest that all his teams succeed. »
“Sceptical at first,” X account manager Glorious Botafogo now sees Textor as “a visionary,” and Eagle timeshare as “a wonderful thing.”
« There are supporters of both clubs who want nothing to do with it and who don’t care what happens to the other club. I think that’s an immature way of looking at this partnership. The sooner supporters of both clubs (and Molenbeek) understand that supporting each other is the best way to go, the better for everyone. »
A discussion channel on X between fans of Eagle clubs
Is it inconceivable to imagine “synergies” between Lyon and Botafogo on the supporter side? John Textor recently recounted that an improbable broadcast of a Belgian D2 match from Molenbeek, via the YouTube channel Botafogo TV, brought together 170,000 spectators in Brazil. “This is what happens when you open your mind,” the Eagle boss continued on this subject.
“There is already great solidarity between the communities of Botafogo and Molenbeek, two clubs bought within a month of each other at the start of 2022,” confirms Mehdi from Botafogo France. We have also created a discussion channel on X where there are a total of around a hundred fans of Botafogo, Molenbeek and OL. It allows us to exchange our perceptions about our clubs within Eagle. » And that around this Rio club with the black and white jersey is resolutely positive, according to Mehdi.
“Apart from the episode of Jeffinho’s hasty departure and not being replaced in Lyon, Eagle is really well regarded by Botafogo supporters. On the subject of letting good players go to OL, they say to themselves that if it is not to Lyon, it will be to another European club. And they are not fooled by the low transfer fees for Perri and Adryelson last winter (€3.250 million and €3.580 million): they know very well that there is no real transaction, that it passes from left pocket to right pocket of John Textor. »
“Very positive things to imagine… in the long term”
Methods which will no more convince some of the Lyon supporters than this recent “Eagle Football post” on the OL account. “On this timing, I would have rather advised solidifying the OL foundations than trying to create bridges/synergies between communities who do not know each other,” confides Florian Ridard, advisor within the Vae Solis Communications firm, who regularly works with football players. We are starting from a blank sheet and there would be many very positive things to imagine, such as fan trips between Brazil and France. But in the long term in my opinion. »
Our file on John Textor
John Textor shares his vision of his supposedly non-passionate attachment to OL: “When you arrive at a new club, you’re not just going to put on an OL cap and say ‘I love the club as much as you do them. guy because I’m the owner.” I must earn this right, I must suffer and I must have joy. This love, affection and commitment comes with time. Finally, commitment comes quickly and emotions develop over time.” Those between the owner of OL and the Lyon supporters will undoubtedly experience many twists and turns.