Ligue 2 – The FFF authorizes Bordeaux to remain in Ligue 2, the club of Gerard Lopez is saved from disappearance

On Saturday, Bordeaux will play against Valenciennes for the start of the L2 season. And it almost looks like a small miracle for the Aquitaine club. The Girondins have just been saved in extremis from an administrative demotion to National (3rd division). After receiving the favorable opinion on Monday from the National Olympic Committee (CNOSF), training for the scapular saw the executive committee of the French Football Federation go in the same direction. And can therefore breathe after weeks of doubts.

Yes, Bordeaux will leave well in L2. And no lower. Sportingly relegated after a disastrous exercise in L1, the Girondin club had nevertheless been demoted to National by the financial policeman of French football, the DNCG, on June 14, then by the federal appeal commission on July 5. But Bordeaux and its president-owner Gerard Lopez have found levers to raise the bar and reassure the authorities about the club’s situation.

“Meeting this Wednesday, the executive committee took the decision to accept the conciliation proposal made by the French National Olympic and Sports Committee (CNOSF)“, announces the 3F in its press release, which specifies that the club must be summoned by the DNCG “to judge any immediate follow-up and control measures against him“, and that the Girondins will be under “reinforced and regular financial control during the 2022-2023 season“.

Bordeaux turned the tables

So how did Bordeaux manage to reverse the situation? In recent weeks, the club’s debt has shrunk from 40 million euros to 13.5 million euros. And with the sequestration of 14 million euros by Gerard Lopez via his Jogo Bonito holding company as a guarantee for the sale of players during the transfer window, the Girondins’ balance sheets seemed less disastrous while the sale of Sekou Mara to Southampton, formalized Monday by the English club, for 11 million euros also sent a positive signal for a formation which will also benefit from the transfer of Jules Koundé (up to 20%).

These elements have made it possible to change the situation. The Commercial Court of Bordeaux first certified the sustainability of the club in L2 and its financial viability next season Before the CNOSF conciliators issued a favorable opinion on Monday after finding that the Girondins had “made significant efforts to present the elements allowing to remove a certain number of doubts (…) so that the measure pronounced (by the appeal commission of the federal DNCG) appears today excessive“.

The 14 members of the federal “Comex”, meeting on Wednesday morning, therefore followed the movement to save the club, six times champion of France. The Navy and White will now be able to focus a little more on the athlete. With therefore a first official match on Saturday. A meeting prepared in conditions far from ideal. But no one will complain about it in Gironde after seeing the cleaver pass so close.

Lopez will offer the tickets for Bordeaux – Valenciennes

For its part, the Bordeaux management welcomed this decision. Mainly Gérard Lopez who decided to offer the places for the first match of the season against Valenciennes. “Excellent news for the Girondins and French football. Now, on to the sport!“, commented the president of the club.

Thomas Jacquemier, deputy general manager of the club, for his part announced that the club was going to start again on new bases. “We welcome this decision which is a huge relief for the club, our players, as well as for our 300 employees, partners and supporters who have continued to believe in our project and our determination to defend it. We fought with all the friends and supporters of the club for a sporting and economic project that allows the FCGB to write a new page in its history on sound foundations. Our objective is now clear: get back to the League as quickly as possible 1″.

(With AFP)