FLASH
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Olympique Lyonnais faces a serious risk of being excluded from European competitions next season, despite the team being very close to securing a place in the UEFA Champions League through the French championship.
According to reports from The Telegraph, UEFA has opened a new investigation into the French club due to suspicions that the terms of a financial agreement reached last summer with the Club Financial Control Body have not been respected.
Lyon currently sit fourth in Ligue 1 and are in the race for a Champions League spot. A win over Lens in the final week of the season could see them secure direct qualification for Europe's most prestigious club competition.
However, financial problems could completely change the situation. Even if they fail to secure the Champions League, Lyon are almost guaranteed a place in the Europa League or the Conference League, but participation in these tournaments remains in question due to UEFA's investigations.
The club has been punished before for breaching financial sustainability rules. Last year, Lyon was temporarily relegated to Ligue 2 due to the economic crisis, but later managed to overturn the decision on appeal.
To balance the finances, the directors were forced to sell some of their key players. Among them was the talented Ryan Cherki, who joined Manchester City for £34 million.
According to the agreement reached with UEFA, the club's owners were to invest 52 million euros by July 15 last year and convert them into equity by October 15. However, reports suggest that these obligations may not have been fully met.
UEFA usually avoids excluding clubs from European competitions, but if serious financial violations are found, European football's governing body could take strong measures against the French club.
Lyon's financial situation remains worrying. In the second half of last year alone, the club reported losses of £162 million.
Now, Lyon risks the financial crisis affecting not only the club's economic stability, but also its future in the European arena.
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