Paris (Archyde.com)
Just three days before the start of the new season, the French football authorities confirmed that Bordeaux, the former champion, will compete in the second division, after being relegated earlier to the third division due to financial problems.
The French Football Federation decided today, Wednesday, to postpone the implementation of the penalty for relegation to the lower division, after the club developed a plan to settle the debts.
Bordeaux, the six-time French champion, was relegated to the second division after it was bottom of the French top-flight last season, and its debts amounted to about 40 million euros.
The French Football Supervisory Authority found that the club would not be able to meet its financial obligations next season and ordered it to be relegated to the third division.
But after the debt settlement plan and owner Gerard Lopez injecting 10 million euros, in addition to Bordeaux receiving 14 million euros in player sales, prompted the French Federation to agree to Bordeaux’s participation in the second division this season.
And Lopez decided to enter the fans free of charge to attend their opening match of the season against Valencia on Saturday, “in gratitude for their role in supporting the club in recent weeks.”
The French city has witnessed several large-scale demonstrations in recent weeks against the relegation of the club to the third division.
Bordeaux, who also won four Cups in France, last won the top-flight title in 2009.