After exclusion from national competitions, what next for Girondins de Bordeaux? | OneFootball

According to L'Équipe, Bordeaux’s exclusion from the national leagues was upheld on Wednesday morning on appeal, after funds to finance next season were not in place. Gérard Lopez has opened the door to a sale for a symbolic one euro, yet the club’s future remains uncertain both before football authorities and in the commercial court.

At 11.20 on 15 July, after an hour before the DNCG appeal commission at the FFF, the outcome appeared inevitable. A communiqué around 15.45 confirmed the 30 June sanction. For now, Bordeaux are at best in Régional 1, with the Ligue de Nouvelle-Aquitaine to decide their division.

Before the federal body, the delegation led by Lopez confirmed that the nine to 10 million euros needed for reinstatement in National 1 were not available.

Lopez reiterated he would not add further funds after injecting 71 million euros since July 2021. He remains open to a sale for one euro to a buyer able to ensure financial sustainability and honour the plan approved on 24 June 2025. The British investment fund Sparta, a declared suitor, has provided no financial guarantees so far.

The club is considering an appeal to the CNOSF, whose advisory opinion is often followed by the FFF’s Comex. The commercial court did not oppose the move, and there is now a 15-day window to file it. Bordeaux hope to gain time and complete a sale before a hearing that could take place at the end of July, but face a legal hurdle as no new elements can be added.

It remains unclear whether the sale route tabled on Wednesday would be deemed new given no buyer is named. If so, the club would likely head at best for R1, with a possible domino effect of judicial liquidation. The association led by Jean-Louis Triaud would then assume charges tied to the affiliation number, including 4.5 million euros for foreign transfers and 500,000 euros in training compensation.

If the association cannot meet those liabilities, Bordeaux would lose their affiliation number, and with it their honours, history and memory.

Source: L'Équipe