One of France’s most historic football clubs, Girondins Bordeaux, isn’t so appreciated by its rivals.
The troubled six-time Ligue 1 winners have been pushed to the brink by the Gerard Lopez, ‘The Man Who Ruins Every Club He Buys‘.
Yet unlike former Portuguese champions Boavista who have been wound up after his tenure, Bordeaux looked to have found a late hero – British firm Sparta Capital.
The company have come up with €10million to get the deal done, but on one condition, that Bordeaux remain in the fourth tier.
It appeared as if those in charge of the administrative relegation would play ball, but now they have some mighty opposition.
Bordeaux’s rivals demand relegation to sixth tier
The presidents of 10 different fourth tier rivals have addressed a joint letter demanding that Bordeaux not be reinstated.
The letter was signed by those in charge of Stade Briochin, US Granville, Vendée Poiré Football, Aviron Bayonnais, Dinan Léhon FC, US Saint Malo, Saint Colomban Locminé, Saumur Olympique, Vendée Les Herbiers, and Voltigeurs de Chateaubrian.
In it’s lengthy texts were strongly worded critiques of the handling of the situation.
One such read: “Everything suggests today that in the end, ‘Lopez wins’ and that the friendly fund that bought this great institution of French football will be able to continue its misdeeds. This view of things is astounding.”
They also wrote: “With a sense of déjà vu, the 16 clubs that regularly make up a National 1 group will find themselves with 17, with all the imbalances that entails.
“As every year, their schedule will be completely disrupted a few days before the start of the season. And perhaps, as every year, one of the participating teams will be allowed to start the season later than the others, in total violation of the notion of fairness.
“All this to save a club, which is certainly a monument of French football, but which has been operating against all common sense for many years.
“At a time when, for the umpteenth time, the summer saga of Girondins de Bordeaux’s reprieve is dominating French football, this view of things is astounding.”
What happens next for Bordeaux?
Bordeaux’s ‘new’ Sparta Capital owners presented their case to the CNOSF (French National Olympic and Sports Committee) at 2pm on Wednesday, arguing for their re-instatement.
The CNOSF will now make a final decision within 48 hours on whether to keep Bordeaux in the fourth tier, or push them down to the sixth, likely losing Sparta and their future.
There are precedents in Bordeaux’s favour such as in 2012 when Le Mans, then in Ligue 2, had its relegation overturned after providing financial guarantees.
Similarly, in 2014, Lens presented the CNOSF with a €4 million commitment from its then majority shareholder, Hafiz Mammadov.
The case will then be sent to the French Football Federation for final approval, and in both previous cases they have gone with the CNOSF’s reccommendation.
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