CNOSF upholds Bordeaux exclusion from national football, pushing sextuple champions toward liquidation

CNOSF upholds exclusion

On Friday evening, August 14, the CNOSF conciliator notified Girondins de Bordeaux around 20:30 that he recommended maintaining the club's exclusion from all national competitions, a sanction first handed down by the DNCG on June 30 and confirmed on appeal on July 15. The recommendation is consultative but leaves the sextuple French champions facing possible liquidation. Vice-president Arnaud De Carli confirmed receipt of the notification on Friday evening. The club had presented its case to the CNOSF on August 5, but the conciliator was not persuaded.

The CNOSF conciliator determined that the 10.6 million euros assembled by the British investment fund Sparta Capital constituted a new element rather than a complementary one. In the first DNCG hearing on June 30, a different project had been discussed involving the transfer of 66% of shares and a capital increase. The conciliator noted that while a loan had been mentioned during the appeal, it had not been clearly presented.

Club responds with surprise

On Saturday, August 15, Bordeaux published a communiqué expressing astonishment at the recommendation. The club emphasized that the decision now rests with the FFF Executive Committee, the only body authorized to rule on the matter.

The Club is surprised by this orientation, particularly important financial guarantees having been provided by the new investors to secure the financing of the coming season as well as the following ones.

The club's leadership highlighted that 10.6 million euros had been placed under escrow at the Caisse des Depots et Consignations, meeting DNCG requirements, with an additional 10 million euros deposited in a dedicated account at JP Morgan. The investors also committed to applying the continuation plan validated by the commercial court, which includes repaying 20 million euros in debts owed to numerous French clubs and regional creditors.

A century-old club on the brink

Since their last French championship title in 2009, the Girondins have experienced a steep sporting and financial decline. Gerard Lopez acquired the club in 2021 after being ousted from Lille for financial reasons. The club was relegated to Ligue 2 the following season, then dropped two tiers in 2024, spending approximately one year under commercial court protection until a continuation plan was adopted in June 2025, reducing debt from about 100 million euros to 26 million euros.

The club lost its professional status and its renowned training academy in the process. On July 31, Lopez transferred his shares to Sparta Capital for a symbolic one euro, with the fund committing 10.6 million euros to cover the 2025-2026 season debts and finance the 2026-2027 season. However, this payment was conditional on the club remaining in national competitions.

What happens next

The FFF Executive Committee will meet in the coming days to examine the CNOSF recommendation and decide whether Bordeaux can participate in National 1 this season. The club has 15 days to contest the measure by filing an appeal with the administrative tribunal. Bordeaux is currently registered in Regional 1, the sixth tier of French football, with their first match scheduled for August 29 at Saint-Medard-en-Jalles.

If the FFF follows the CNOSF recommendation, the club warns of dire consequences.

If the French Football Federation were to follow this recommendation, it would put an end to the story of a major French football club, carried by an entire city and its territory.

The club drew 26,000 supporters to the Stade Atlantique in May, a record for an N1 or N2 match in France. If liquidation is requested by the commercial court, even participation in Regional 1 is not guaranteed.