Ten National 1 football club presidents released a joint statement on Tuesday opposing the proposed reinstatement of Girondins de Bordeaux into France's fourth division. The executives expressed astonishment at the plan, describing it as a breach of fairness and preferential treatment.
The club leaders directly rejected claims made by Sparta Capital following its takeover of the team. Sparta Capital stated that work under owner Gérard Lopez had given the club a healthier financial position and a far stronger cost structure than the one inherited during its acquisition. In response, the ten presidents stated that they were tired of hearing the annual summer narrative concerning the rescue of Bordeaux.
Disruption to league schedules and governance
The signers noted a sense of deja vu, warning that expanding the division from 16 to 17 teams would create severe organizational imbalances. They added that the general match schedule faces disruption just days before the start of the season. According to the presidents, these adjustments are being made to save a club that is a landmark of French football but has operated against common sense for many years.
The statement also criticized the potential for a favorable opinion from the French National Olympic and Sports Committee, known as the CNOSF. The presidents stated that the committee should not consider the takeover as a new element compared to the financial file previously submitted to the National Directorate of Management Control, or DNCG. They emphasized that financial guarantees were not deposited before the required deadline.
Financial liabilities and regulatory demands
The group asserted that the arrival of an investment fund does not justify special treatment to save the club. They pointed out that the continuation of operations relies on 70 million euros in liabilities left to creditors. The presidents expressed concern that owner Gérard Lopez would ultimately win at the expense of teams that maintain strict financial management.
The ten presidents urged the French Football Federation, or FFF, to uphold the original DNCG decision excluding Bordeaux from national competitions. They also asked the federation to enforce the new law on professional sports to regulate club acquisitions and curb multi-ownership practices.
Bordeaux was previously subject to administrative demotion to Regional 1, the sixth division, after failing to secure the necessary funds for the upcoming season. The club hopes to avoid judicial liquidation through reinstatement. Separately, businessman Dominique Delport, an associate of Vincent Bolloré from Toulouse, announced his appointment as the new club president following the takeover by Sparta Capital.
