A $400 Million Lawsuit Rocks French Soccer
John Textor has launched a civil action in a Florida state court, seeking at least $400 million from Michele Kang. The complaint alleges defamation, fraudulent concealment and a civil conspiracy that, according to the filing, stems from Kang’s push to acquire Olympique Lyon and cut the club’s ties to Textor’s Eagle Football Holdings.
Kang’s recent agreement to purchase the French club would effectively end its association with Textor’s investment vehicle. The deal, announced earlier this year, marks a pivotal moment in the ownership reshuffle of the Ligue 1 side and has triggered a flurry of legal maneuvering.
Alleged Shadow Board and Secret Deal
According to the lawsuit, Textor accuses Kang of tricking him into relinquishing operational control of Lyon and of entering a clandestine side agreement with the private‑credit firm Ares. The arrangement, the complaint says, created a ‘shadow board’ that convened roughly 30 times over five months with the explicit purpose of driving Eagle Football Holdings toward insolvency.
Textor further claims he was targeted by the French soccer regulator DNCG and that the shadow board’s activities were part of a broader scheme of private corruption and abuse of corporate power. In March, the holding company was placed under the supervision of UK restructuring administrator Cork Gully, a move that Textor says was orchestrated as part of the alleged conspiracy.
Denials and Wider Implications
Kang’s spokesperson has dismissed the allegations as baseless and without merit, insisting that the claims are without factual foundation. The dispute now sits at the intersection of high‑stakes sports finance and international corporate intrigue, with both parties poised to battle it out in the courts.