John Textor Under Fire as Botafogo Fans Brand Owner a ‘Clown and Swindler’ Amid Turbulent Season

When John Textor bought into Brazilian giants Botafogo, supporters dared to believe that the Rio de Janeiro club was about to enter a new era of stability, ambition, and glory. Fast forward to the 2025 season, however, and the American businessman — once hailed as a visionary with a global multi-club project — finds himself at the centre of a storm.

The anger boiled over in recent weeks as frustrated fans branded Textor a “clown and swindler” during heated protests outside the Nilton Santos Stadium. With Botafogo stumbling domestically and enduring painful exits from both the Copa Libertadores and Copa do Brasil, disillusionment with the club’s owner has reached breaking point.

Protests Target Textor at Nilton Santos Stadium

The latest demonstrations were not subtle, nor were they designed to be. On Tuesday evening, members of an organised ultra group gathered outside the Nilton Santos Stadium, timing their presence with the end of first-team training. The intention was clear: to confront club officials and send a message to the players that mediocrity would not be tolerated.

Banners and chants were directed squarely at Textor. “Clown and swindler,” they shouted — words that carry the sting of betrayal. The atmosphere was so tense that Botafogo’s leadership had already reinforced security at both the stadium and their Espaco Lonier training ground in anticipation of such unrest.

For a fanbase that once saw Textor as a modernising force, the personal nature of the protest underscored how far the relationship has soured. What began as cautious optimism has turned into distrust and resentment.

Why Botafogo Fans Are Furious with John Textor

Textor

The frustration stems from more than just a bad week on the pitch. For many, it is about broken promises and the sense that Botafogo’s proud traditions have been undermined.

This season’s humiliating exits from the Copa Libertadores at the hands of Ecuador’s LDU and from the Copa do Brasil against fierce rivals Vasco da Gama reopened old wounds. Supporters are still haunted by the collapse of the 2023–24 campaign, when Botafogo squandered a commanding lead at the top of the Brasileirao and let the title slip away.

For fans who had waited decades for a realistic shot at domestic dominance, that implosion was unforgivable. And now, with the club only fourth in the current league table and once again looking unlikely to win silverware, patience has run out.

To many, Textor represents the continuity of failure. The promise of turning Botafogo into a powerhouse — part of a wider global network — has instead left them with inconsistency, instability, and a sense of being a pawn in a bigger game.

The Multi-Club Model Under Fire

Botafogo v Bahia – Brasileirao 2025

What makes this saga particularly complex is that Botafogo’s struggles are seen as part of a broader malaise in Textor’s football empire. Under the Eagle Football Holdings umbrella, Textor also owns stakes in clubs such as Lyon in France and RWD Molenbeek in Belgium.

But cracks are showing. Lyon have been in crisis both on and off the field, raising questions about whether Textor’s resources and attention are spread too thin. In Brazil, Botafogo fans fear they are the collateral damage of a grand experiment that prioritises corporate synergy over local identity and success.

The looming regulatory storm in Europe only adds fuel to the fire. A French member of parliament has presented a bill that could ban multi-club ownership structures in Ligue 1. Should that legislation pass, it would directly impact Lyon — and by extension, the credibility of Textor’s entire model. For Botafogo fans, it reinforces the belief that they are tethered to an unstable and possibly doomed project.

A Fragile Reprieve: Victory Over Bahia

For all the turmoil off the pitch, Botafogo managed to secure a much-needed result against Bahia, edging out a 2-1 win that lifted them to fourth in the Brasileirao with 43 points. The victory provided some relief, if only temporarily, and showed that coach Davide Ancelotti and his squad still have the capacity to dig out results.

But the tension remains palpable. Players are under immense pressure not just to win but to show “guts and passion” — qualities supporters feel have been missing for far too long. Even in victory, the underlying issues are never far from the surface.

Textor’s Tumultuous Relationship with Supporters

The relationship between owners and fans in Brazil has always been uniquely intense, and Textor’s case is no different. His background as a former Crystal Palace investor and Hollywood-style entrepreneur initially intrigued supporters, but football in Rio is not a game of spreadsheets and synergy.

Botafogo fans want results, trophies, and the pride of seeing their club stand tall against Flamengo, Fluminense, and Vasco. The narrative of being part of a larger football conglomerate means little if the team on the field looks directionless. Textor’s public persona — confident, sometimes brash — has only deepened the resentment when results have not matched his promises.

What Comes Next for Botafogo?

The road ahead is fraught with challenges. On the pitch, Botafogo must continue to grind out results if they are to secure continental qualification and salvage something from another turbulent season. Off the pitch, Textor faces a long and difficult path to rebuilding trust with a fanbase that feels betrayed.

Security may hold back protests for now, but the anger is unlikely to disappear until Botafogo show real progress. That means not just surviving but competing for titles, proving that they can rise above the chaos of 2024’s collapse.

And beyond Rio, Textor’s entire multi-club experiment hangs in the balance. If European regulators clamp down and Lyon falters, the ripple effects could reach Botafogo in devastating ways.

Conclusion: A Season of Reckoning

John Textor has discovered what so many foreign investors in Brazilian football have learned before him: passion here runs deeper than business plans. For Botafogo supporters, ownership is not just about balance sheets and global projects. It is about honour, fight, and the pursuit of trophies.

Being called a “clown and swindler” is more than just an insult — it is a verdict from the terraces. Unless Textor can find a way to stabilise the club, deliver results, and convince fans that Botafogo’s identity is not being sacrificed, the protests will only grow louder.

For now, the win against Bahia provides a brief reprieve. But make no mistake: 2025 could be the season that defines not only Textor’s legacy in Rio, but the fate of his entire footballing empire.