John Textor has initiated a lawsuit against Michele Kang in Florida, demanding at least $400 million related to the takeover of French soccer club Olympique Lyonnais. The suit follows Kang's deal last month to assume control of Lyon, ending Textor's involvement through his company, Eagle Football Holdings. Textor claims Kang deceived him by securing operational control of Lyon under the guise of partnership, while secretly negotiating a side agreement with Ares, a private-credit firm that lent money to Eagle Football Holdings.

The complaint details allegations of defamation, fraudulent concealment, and civil conspiracy, accusing Kang of creating a "shadow board" through her agreement with Ares, which held significantly more meetings than the official board and influenced decisions behind the scenes. Textor argues this board pushed Eagle Football Holdings toward insolvency, enabling Kang and other investors to acquire Lyon at a discounted price. The suit also references pressure from the French soccer regulator DNCG, which Textor claims favored Kang if he resigned as Lyon's president and CEO.

Kang’s representatives have dismissed the allegations, calling them baseless and stressing Kang’s commitment to Lyon’s success. Meanwhile, Eagle Football Holdings was placed under U.K. restructuring control in March. Textor himself filed a confidential criminal complaint against Kang in France earlier this year, while Lyon’s parent company has initiated a separate legal action in France citing suspicious financial transactions during Textor’s leadership.

In addition to Lyon, Textor holds stakes in Botafogo in Brazil and RWDM Brussels in Belgium, while Kang owns the Washington Spirit, Lyon’s women’s team, and the London City Lionesses. The lawsuit marks a significant legal escalation amid a high-profile dispute over control and financial management involving major sports assets across multiple countries.