The proposed buyout of FC Girondins de Bordeaux by American investment fund Park Bench has collapsed following the confirmation of the club’s exclusion from national championships, bringing the historic French team closer to judicial liquidation.
Park Bench Abandons Takeover Bid
According to reports from RMC Sport, Park Bench withdrew its takeover offer after the French Football Federation (FFF) executive committee upheld the team’s exclusion from national competitions. The decision eliminates the primary condition of the buyout proposal, which required Bordeaux to maintain its place in the national league structure.
An Untenable Financial Gamble
Park Bench had pursued the acquisition alongside Sparta Capital, entering discussions on July 27.
In an official statement cited by regional media, the investment fund explained that operating the club in Régional 1 while shouldering existing debt and the obligations of a restructuration plan would have created an untenable financial gamble. The firm stated that it had placed more than 10 million euros into escrow within days, alongside additional reserves designed to fund the season.
“We respect the decision,” Park Bench noted in its communication, expressing disappointment over the outcome despite its financial commitment.
Federation Solidifies Club Fate
The FFF executive committee solidified the club’s fate on Thursday by ruling in favor of placing Bordeaux in Régional 1 without reopening the review process for prospective buyers. Federation officials maintained that granting an exception would establish a problematic precedent for other clubs facing financial distress.
Club leadership responded sharply to the federation’s stance, arguing that no definitive legal ruling justified the exclusion and pointing to court-verified solvency alongside fully funded projections for the upcoming campaign.
In the days preceding the ruling, French Sports Minister Marina Ferrari had publicly urged football authorities to identify an intermediate solution to prevent total sporting collapse.
Liquidation Looms Over Bordeaux
With national competition off the table and the primary investor pulling out, the prospect of judicial liquidation now looms over the once-proud club.
Supporters face mounting uncertainty as the organization lacks alternative buyers willing to assume operations under regional amateur constraints.
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