Former French Ligue 1 champions Bordeaux have suffered another blow, being relegated to France’s fourth-tier National 2 after entering receivership. The announcement was made by the French football federation (FFF) on Thursday. The club’s financial struggles have been well-documented, with the need to find 40 million euros ($43.6 million) to balance their books. Talks with Liverpool’s owners, Fenway Sports Group (FSG), were unsuccessful, with the American investors pulling out of negotiations in mid-July.
Due to these financial woes, France’s National Directorate of Management Control (DNCG) initially decided to relegate Bordeaux to the third-tier National 1. The club accepted this decision after withdrawing an appeal on July 23. Two days later, Bordeaux announced that it would become an amateur club for the first time in almost 90 years after filing for bankruptcy.
In a bid to allow the club a season in the amateur National 1, the city’s local commercial court placed Bordeaux into receivership on Tuesday. However, the DNCG ruled on Thursday to relegate the club a further division to the fourth tier. This decision aligns with the French league’s (LFP) regulations, which state that a club in receivership must be demoted to the division below the one they would have qualified for the following season.
If six-time French champion Bordeaux accepts this latest relegation, it will not require ratification by the FFF’s executive committee. However, the club still has options. They can appeal to the amateur version of the DNCG, though this risks a heavier sanction, or bring their case before the French National Olympic and Sports Committee (CNOSF) as a last resort.
With the National 2 season kicking off in just over two weeks, on August 16, Bordeaux faces a challenging future in the lower divisions of French football. The club’s journey from Ligue 1 champions to the fourth tier highlights the severity of their financial struggles and the impact it has had on their sporting ambitions.
