Girondins de Bordeaux face CNOSF hearing in last chance for National 1 | OneFootball

Bordeaux face a CNOSF conciliation at 14:00 on Wednesday, their last chance to be reinstated in National 1 after a 30 June exclusion, upheld on 15 July for lacking financial guarantees. They go in backed by new owner Sparta Capital and its investors.

According to L'Équipe, the hearing follows an appeal, and a favourable opinion would see the FFF executive committee meet early next week to decide whether to follow it.

On 31 July Gérard Lopez transferred his shares to Sparta Capital for a symbolic €1, waiving his claims and his ‘retour à meilleure fortune’ clause.

Sparta Capital has secured €10.6 million to complete 2026-2027, clear arrears and meet continuation-plan deadlines. Its backers include James Bord, Felix Roemer, Evan Sofer and Jeremy Green.

After the hearing the conciliator has 48 hours to issue a non-binding opinion. If negative, the process ends unless Bordeaux go to the administrative court, and the sale to Sparta would be void, with Bordeaux dropping into Championnat de Régional 1 and liquidation looming.

Presenting the case will be director general Arnaud Saint-André, lawyers Matthieu Barrandas and Laurent Cotret, and a Sparta representative, very likely co-founder Franck Tuil.

Bordeaux will invoke a 29 July 2020 Conseil d'État ruling allowing the FFF Comex, after CNOSF conciliation, to consider evidence submitted after the DNCG appeal. Precedent exists, Le Mans in 2012 and Lens in 2014 were aided by favourable CNOSF opinions, though Sochaux in 2023 still stayed in National.

Source: L'Équipe

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