Bordeaux blast ‘incomprehensible’ move to keep club in Ligue 2 after fan assault

Bordeaux have slammed the Ligue del Football Professionel (LFP), the governing body for football in France, for handing them a defeat in their final-day match against Rodez which was initially suspended after a fan assaulted an opposing player on the pitch. It means that Les Girondins will be forced to play Ligue 2 football once again next season, with Metz instead being promoted to Ligue 1 in their place.

Bordeaux needed to better Metz’s result on the final day of the Ligue 2 campaign in order to secure a long-awaited return to France’s top flight but went behind against Rodez in the early stages of the first half. A supporter then entered the pitch as the visiting players were celebrating and shoved goalscorer Lucas Buades, who was taken off on a stretcher, before it was announced that the match would not be restarted.

The LFP quickly confirmed that its disciplinary committee would meet in order to determine the correct response and it has since been revealed that the fixture will not be replayed, with Rodez being handed all three points to leave Bordeaux empty-handed. An official club statement on Monday condemned the decision in no uncertain terms, with Metz now set to move into Ligue 1 instead of the six-time French champions for the upcoming 2023/24 season.

“The disciplinary commission of the LFP today issued a decision that is as incomprehensible as it is disproportionate, both in view of the elements of the file and the case law,” the statement reads. “FC Girondins de Bordeaux will contact the CNOSF [French National Olympic and Sport Committee] as soon as possible to defend its rights and sporting fairness.”

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Bordeaux will also face a one-point deduction at the start of the upcoming campaign, while they will be forced to play two matches behind closed doors as a result of the incident that took place in the aftermath of Rodez’s opening goal. Meanwhile, the ruling also means that Rodez will retain their Ligue 2 status for another year after being awarded the victory despite initially facing the possibility of relegation to France’s third tier.

Rodez went on to release a statement of their own to condemn the online abuse levelled at them in the wake of the fixture, which read: “The surge of hate messages, death threats received for more than a week against the club and its player, Lucas Buades, should no longer be allowed today.

“With this press release, we have a special thought for all the victims of harassment and more generally of violence. It is no longer tolerable. Rodez Aveyron Football, its president, reserves the right to take any legal action against the various threats and defamation to which they have been subjected. 

“By the latter, we once again renew our support for our player, Lucas. The time is now for appeasement and projection on this 2023/2024 season.”

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