‘Inhumane’ – former French internationals critical of Lyon’s treatment of Anthony Lopes

John Textor is in the line of fire again, with a pair of former French internationals taking aim at the American owner and how the club is treating one of their longest-serving players.

Jérôme Rothen, host of the RMC Spot programme “Rothen S’enflamme”, expressed his displeasure over how Olympique Lyonnais are handling the Anthony Lopes (33) demotion.

The Portuguese goalkeeper, Lyon’s first-choice for several seasons, has been downgraded to number four at the club. OL looked to force the player out this summer, however, ultimately no opportunity presented itself.

Rothen, who helped AS Monaco reach the 2003-04 UEFA Champions League final, says that Lyon’s owner and the club have one clear goal with this demotion.

“There is a total lack of respect. This is to make him (Lopes) crack,” says Rothen. He goes on to say: “John Textor, he has nothing to do with the club and the history of the club. These players, like Lopes or whatever, they represent the club, they have the soul of this club in them.”

Rothen was joined on Wednesday’s show by former French World Cup and Euro winner Christophe Dugarry. The former Bordeaux and Olympique de Marseille striker also voiced his displeasure about how the Lopes situation is being handled.

“That’s all I hate about football,” said Dugarry. “It’s horrible. You can lose your place, and you can find yourself No. 2. But No.4, does that mean what the poor man does after 25 years at the club?”

Lopes has played his entire senior career at OL, helping them make the Coupe de France final last season and twice finishing second in the Coupe de la Ligue

He was Portugal’s reserve goalkeeper, when they won Euro 2016 on French soil and is under contract with Les Gones until June 2025.

In January, Lyon signed goalkeeper Lucas Perri from Brazilian side Botafogo for a fee of €3.25m until June 2028, with a sell-on clause of 50%. The other two keepers ahead of Lopes in the Lyon pecking order are Rémy Descamps and Justin Bengui.

OL supporters appear to agree with Dugarry and Rothen regarding the Lopes situation. In their 3-2 defeat versus Marseille, fans had a banner supporting Lopes, stating that the goalkeeper deserves “better treatment.”

Without Lopes between the sticks, Pierre Sage’s men have conceded 11 goals in five Ligue 1 matches and are 14th in the table, just one point above the relegation zone.

GFFN | Joel Lefevre