Jean-Michel Aulas Faces Ethics Inquiry Over New Stadium Proposal in Lyon Municipal Race

Jean-Michel Aulas, vice-president of the French Football Federation (FFF) and candidate for mayor of Lyon in the 2026 municipal elections, is under investigation by the FFF's ethics committee for proposing a new stadium in the Duchère district. Despite prior warnings from the FFF that he must avoid making football-related electoral promises due to potential conflicts of interest, Aulas presented the stadium project during a campaign visit, notably highlighting its use for the women's OL Lyonnes team and framing it in the context of reforms in amateur football.

The investigation was triggered following Aulas's statements, which critics from the left-ecologist majority accuse of leveraging his federation position for local political gain. His opponents argue this breaches ethical standards, while his supporters maintain that Aulas has acted within ethical boundaries, emphasizing that his proposals were made solely as a mayoral candidate and not in his FFF role.

Should Aulas win the municipal election, he would be required to recuse himself from any municipal council discussions concerning football to avoid conflicts. The ethical inquiry raises significant questions about the intersection of sports administration and local politics, spotlighting the challenges for officials balancing sports governance roles and political ambitions.