FC Girondins de Bordeaux has renounced its professional status following relegation to the third tier of French football. The club, which experienced a financial collapse after a failed takeover by FSG, has terminated all player contracts and closed its training center.
In a dramatic turn of events, FC Girondins de Bordeaux, a historic name in French football, has renounced its professional status just days after suffering relegation to the third tier of French football. This decision marks a significant decline for the club, which once celebrated six Ligue 1 titles, with its most recent triumph in 2009.
Bordeaux’s troubles began with financial difficulties that plagued the club for years. The situation worsened when a potential takeover by FSG, owners of Liverpool, collapsed. The takeover was seen as a lifeline that might have prevented further penalties, but the withdrawal of FSG has left Bordeaux in a dire position.
The club had been hoping to overturn a decision by the French National Directorate of Management Control (DNCG) that placed them in the National 1 Championship for the 2024/2025 season. However, Bordeaux decided to accept this sanction and forego its professional status, a status it had held since 1937.
In the wake of this decision, Bordeaux has terminated all player contracts and closed its training center to cut costs. This move brings an end to a tumultuous period that began with the club entering administration in 2021.
The decision to step away from professional football underscores the severity of Bordeaux’s financial crisis and the challenges that football clubs can face when financial stability is compromised. The once-proud club now faces an uncertain future, with its legacy significantly diminished.
