Sad news from France: the fallen giant is nearing collapse.

Bordeaux, a once-mighty French football club, faces its most dire financial crisis yet, with the prospect of being relegated to the sixth tier of French football after failing to appeal against its exclusion from the fourth division. On Friday, the French Olympic and Sports Committee (CNOSF) rejected the club’s complaint, confirming that it will not participate in the Ligue 4 season starting August 22. The decision was announced by club vice-president Arnaud De Carlier, leaving Bordeaux with just 15 days to file another appeal. This latest setback marks the culmination of years of financial turmoil that has pushed the club further down the ladder. The decline began in 2024, when Bordeaux was forced to drop from Ligue 2 to Ligue 3 due to severe financial difficulties. Despite attempts to secure funding through negotiations with investors, the club failed to reach an agreement and was subsequently relegated to Ligue 4. The situation worsened when the club was fined for failing to cover approximately €10 million needed for the fiscal year 2025–2026 and debt settlement. These penalties have compounded the financial strain, pushing the club into deeper trouble. Bordeaux, historically one of France's most successful clubs, has won six national titles and four Coupe de France trophies. Its last league victory came in the 2008–09 season, while it has also claimed three Coupe de la Ligue and two Super Cup titles. The club was also home to former world star Zinedine Zidane during his time in France between 1992 and 1996. However, recent years have seen a sharp decline in both performance and stability. In addition to its struggles on the pitch, Bordeaux has had some Slovenian connections in recent years. Spanish coach Albert Riera, well known among Slovenian fans, briefly managed the club between October 2023 and July 2024. His tenure followed stints at Olimpija and Celje in Slovenia, where he gained recognition for his tactical acumen. During his time in Bordeaux, two Slovenian players, Žan Vipotnik and Ažbe Jug, wore the club’s colors. Vipotnik joined the club in the summer of 2023 from Maribor, scoring ten goals in 40 matches before moving to Swansea City in England, where he became their top scorer in the Championship. Jug, who later returned to Maribor, played for Bordeaux from January 2011 to July 2015, having previously been part of Interblock in Ljubljana. The club’s current predicament has left many questioning its future. With no immediate prospects of financial recovery, Bordeaux risks becoming a footnote in French football history. The club’s relegation to the sixth tier would mark a historic fall from grace, transforming one of France’s most storied teams into a struggling lower-league outfit. As the deadline for a new appeal approaches, all eyes remain on Bordeaux, hoping for a last-minute miracle that could prevent this dramatic descent.