He showed his misunderstanding. The president of the Girondins de Bordeaux, Gérard Lopez, held a press conference Thursday, July 7, to react to the decision, Tuesday, of the appeal commission of the National Directorate of Management Control (DNCG). The latter confirmed the demotion club administration in National 1.
The president of the Girondins insisted on the “surprise” of this decision. “The decision of the DNCG on appeal is not just to dismiss the club. It is dismissing two legal advisers, a commercial court, a conciliator… People who have access to the same documents, to the same amounts. Everyone (…) gave a favorable response”, said Gerard Lopez.
“We firmly believe that we have a project that holds water. (…) This club has a future that is positive. Much more positive than it was during the recovery.”
Gérard Lopez, president of the Girondins de Bordeauxat a press conference
“We responded point by point to all the requests that were made. By the text but also by legal acts”, he also claimed. For Thomas Jacquemier, Deputy CEO, the Girondins “had responded to the main request of the DNCG”.
“It is estimated that we have provided the elements which make it possible to demonstrate that there is a reduction in debt and the famous cover expected by the DNCG for the purchase of players, detailed lawyer Laurent Cotret, who insisted that the club was not in default. The rest being the other recipe items that any club has. (…) It’s a bit surprising to have come to this point. Quite honestly, Monday night felt like we ticked all the boxes.”
Press conference
The President of FC Girondins de Bordeaux, @gerard_lopez_ , will give a press conference this Thursday. To follow on Youtube, Facebook and https://t.co/t6S1LV0Jsz from 1⃣3⃣ h 3⃣0⃣ pic.twitter.com/1IFNcaKkyU
– FC Girondins de Bordeaux (@girondins) July 7, 2022
“LDuring the first round, we were open to criticism on one aspect: the sale of players. But today we have offers and the amount of sales will exceed what has been requested. We accepted the decision but there are now solutions”, still exhibited Gérard Lopez. “We have the funds to go until the end of the season” of League 2, he repeated many times. Above all, the club has “the means to go to the end of the season without selling a single player”.
Gérard Lopez also denounces the lack of motivation for the decision, a mandatory step to seize the appeal. “You can’t take a call until you have the motivation. The club has been at a major risk for 48 hours, we have provided all the answers, the money is blocked in an account, and that we still don’t have the motivation. We find this very serious”, he laments.
There are two possible remedies for the club. The Girondins have the possibility to challenge the decision of the appeal committee within 15 days before the French National Olympic and Sports Committee (CNOSF), a conciliation body whose opinion of the conciliator is not binding. At the same time, they can also go to the administrative court. In all cases, “you have to judge, insists Laurent Cotret. The CNOSF must be able to meet calmly, to examine our file. We ask for the most objective examination possible.” The time to act is restricted by the sports calendar and the resumption of the Ligue 2 championship set for July 30.