One of France’s most iconic teams in women’s soccer is facing financial difficulties
- The French Football Federation confirmed that the Girondins de Bordeaux women’s team will not compete in the professional national championships.
- The 2024-2025 season of the French women’s second league has been turned upside down.
A few days before the first weekday of the championship, the women’s section of the Girondins de Bordeaux has been excluded from the national championships.
In a press release, the French Football Federation (FFF) explains that “the club has not appealed this decision and the Second League championship will therefore be played with 11 teams, in accordance with the regulations in force.”
In an interview with the French Football Federation (FFF), the president of the Women’s Professional Football League (LFFP) Jean Michel Aulas regretted this situation: “We strongly regret what is happening with the Girondins de Bordeaux.”
“We tried everything throughout the summer to find private and public funding. Unfortunately, nothing could be achieved within the allotted time.”
The former OL President added that “the economy of women’s sport must be developed with the contribution of private investors, but also with a strong commitment from communities to support the professionalization of women’s football.”
The decision to exclude one of France’s key figures in the world of women’s soccer was taken by the DNCG (National Management Control Directorate) of the French Football Federation (FFF) during the hearing on Thursday morning.
Vanessa Gilles played with the FCGB. (Photo by MEHDI FEDOUACH / AFP)
It comes as the club attempts to transfer the management of its women’s team to the English investment fund Sphera Partners.
Present at the hearing were Thomas Jacquemier, the general manager of the Girondins and a representative of Sphera Partners, testifying to the initial agreement between the two parties.
However, the DNCG rejected the file submitted, citing inadequacies in the financial guarantees necessary to ensure the viability of the teams, according to our colleagues at Sud Ouest.
Without an appeal, the women’s team must resume the season in Regional 1 (an amateur level in French soccer).
This exclusion affects the first team, which was due to start the championship on September 15 against Nice, as well as the U19 team.
An exclusion represents a major blow to the development of women’s soccer in the Bordeaux region, further weakening a section that was already in financial difficulty.
The players and staff find themselves in an uncertain situation, while the investment fund must determine the next steps to try to maintain the presence of the women’s team in the national competitions.
Ada Hegerberg – The First To Criticize
In a post shared on X, Ada Hegerberg was one of the few players to show her support for the women’s section of the Girondins de Bordeaux.
No surprise here. Once again, Ada Hegerberg is present to criticize and demand better playing conditions.
Sud Ouest Girondins wrote on X that “the Girondins players were informed this evening (Thursday) that, due to a lack of buyers, the club will not appeal the DNCG decision. This is the end of the Bordeaux women’s team at the professional level. The association will have to keep the section going at the amateur level (R1 for seniors)”
A post that captured the OL striker’s attention:
“D1 needs Bordeaux. Great players played there. They brought honor to their club for years. Seeing a women’s section disappear in indifference, in 2024, the year of the Olympic Games in France, is a shame. I give them all my support,” the 2018 Ballon d’Or winner posted on her account.
