CNOSF Recommends Bordeaux's Exclusion from National Championships Amidst Financial Crisis

The French National Olympic and Sports Committee (CNOSF) conciliator has advised maintaining the DNCG's decision to exclude the Girondins de Bordeaux from national championships due to their dire financial situation. This non-binding opinion further increases the club's proximity to judicial liquidation. Bordeaux now has 15 days to appeal to the administrative court.

The outlook for the Girondins de Bordeaux has darkened considerably. The CNOSF conciliator has recommended upholding the exclusion from national championships, which was initially imposed by the National Directorate of Management Control (DNCG) because of the club's financial struggles. This information was confirmed to AFP on Friday by the Girondins' vice-president, Arnaud De Carli, corroborating a report from Sud Ouest.

While the CNOSF's recommendation is consultative, it represents another significant blow to the six-time French champions. This recommendation will now be reviewed by the Executive Committee of the French Football Federation (FFF), which is expected to convene soon. The FFF will ultimately decide the fate of the Girondins, whose future is already exceptionally uncertain.

Despite being acquired for a symbolic one euro from Gérard Lopez by Sparta Capital on July 31st, the club's financial situation remains precarious. The new investor had announced raising 10.6 million euros to settle debts for the 2025-2026 season and fund the 2026-2027 fiscal year. However, the disbursement of these funds was contingent on the club's participation in national championships.

A negative decision from the FFF would place the Girondins under a direct threat of judicial liquidation. Currently, Bordeaux is registered in the Régional 1 (R1) league of Nouvelle-Aquitaine, with the championship scheduled to begin on August 29th.

Bordeaux Still Has Recourse, But Judicial Liquidation Looms Closer

The Girondins now have a fifteen-day window to contest the conciliator's proposal and initiate an urgent proceeding before the administrative court. This process could further prolong the ongoing legal and administrative saga surrounding the club, though it offers no guarantee of a favorable outcome.

As it stands, the confirmation of exclusion from national championships could have severe repercussions on the continuation procedure initiated by Bordeaux. Unless Sparta Capital decides to maintain its financial support despite a return to the regional level, the plan administrator, whose oversight began in June 2025, would be compelled to request the early termination of this arrangement from the commercial court. In such a scenario, the judicial liquidation of the Girondins de Bordeaux SASP could be pronounced by the Council Chamber. This poses a significant risk to the club, a six-time French champion and an institution of French football, which finds itself once again on the brink, both sportingly and financially.

The timeline is now extremely tight for the Girondins. The club must first await the FFF Executive Committee's decision, while retaining the option to appeal to the administrative court within fifteen days of the CNOSF's recommendation.