Bordeaux face sixth tier after court rejects appeal

A Paris administrative court rejected Bordeaux's final legal appeal on Friday, leaving the six-time French champions barred from the fourth tier and relegated to the sixth tier for the coming season.

The court rejected arguments of “new financial viability” presented by lawyers for Sparta Capital, the fund that bought the over-indebted club at the end of July.

Bordeaux had already lost an appeal last week before the French National Olympic and Sports Committee against their exclusion from the national leagues.

The club were sanctioned for failing to provide about €10 million needed for the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 financial years and to meet debt payments.

Sparta Capital's lawyers warned in an email to the press on Thursday that if Bordeaux remained in the sixth tier, it would end the takeover project and lead to liquidation.

Bordeaux, formerly one of France's leading clubs, were relegated to Ligue 2 in 2022 and placed in judicial restructuring in 2024, losing their professional status and academy.