Bordeaux accepts administrative demotion to third division

The club failed to find an investor, withdrew funding and hopes to revitalise itself.

Bordeaux announced on Tuesday that it had accepted administrative relegation to Ligue 1, the third tier in France.

The National Administrative Control Directorate announced, early this month, a demotion for non-compliance with controls. fair play Finance, but the club promised to appeal, but has now abandoned it. Bordeaux announced that it would withdraw the appeal it was due to submit on Tuesday, thus accepting the penalty imposed by the first instance court.

The club has not passed Financial Fair Play controls. Gaul president Gerard Lopez will appeal the decision and hopes to sell Bordeaux soon.

Now, the club still has to appear before the DNCG to present a budget and secure a place in the third division, with owner Gerard Lopes, a Boavista shareholder, failing to sell to Fenway Sports Group. [FSG, proprietário do Liverpool].

“Despite the resumption of discussions in recent days, yesterday, Monday 22 July, FSG representatives indicated to Bordeaux and its shareholders that they do not intend to continue the process, despite assurances provided by several parties involved. Consequently, and in the absence of any new information, Bordeaux has withdrawn its appeal against the DNCG decision of 9 July 2024.”

«Bordeaux therefore accepts the administrative relegation to Ligue 1 for the 2024/25 season and will be called upon once again to present its budget to the DNCG. The coming period should allow us to return stronger and at the highest level. The club and its shareholders assure the fans and all stakeholders of their determination to protect the interests of the club».

In an interview with AFP last week, Gérard Lopez outlined three scenarios for the club. The first was to find a partner at the last minute; the second scenario was to declare bankruptcy, which would see the club liquidated and start life again in the national 3rd division (fifth division); and the third, more intermediate scenario, would be a judicial recovery, which would begin when the French football financial control authority makes the club’s relegation to the official national division.

Bordeaux finished last season in the French league in 12th place with 50 points. They won the French champion title 6 times, the last of which was in 2008/2009.