Bordeaux (AFP)
On the podium of the Ligue 1, Bordeaux, however, offers behind the scenes a governance crisis between US shareholders tearing themselves apart, with a delegate chairman deemed authoritarian by ultra determined to chase him.
The demonstration in front of Nîmes (6-0) on Tuesday that allowed Paulo Sousa's men to settle in the 3rd place of the championship, is almost in the background, before the shock Sunday (21:00) in Marseille.
Between the Ultramarines, the main group of supporters, and the team of investment funds GACP and King Street, two visions oppose: one wants to guarantee a popular football, the other believes that "a football club is not part of the sports industry but that of entertainment, "according to the club's strongman Frederic Longuepee.
For weeks, the war has been declared between the two camps, exacerbated by management deemed brutal, a wave of dismissals and pressure, until the director of security in office for 20 years, which is on sick leave.
The management of the ticketing of the south turn, where are installed the ultras, also applies to the head of this sector Antony Thiodet to be persona non grata in the eyes of the most loyal supporters. They also claim that executives hired at great expense by the Americans show their preference for rival clubs (Marseille, Paris ...) on social networks, which puts a little more stress on the situation.
- Deficit -
The day before the trip to Reims (1-1), at the end of November, the ultras led a punch action at Haillan, the training center of the Girondins. Briefly received in delegation by Mr. Longuepée, they expressed their determination, calling him to leave the club.
In this context, a rapprochement seems impossible.
Joe DaGrosa and Hugo Varela, recently absent subscribers, crystallize the rancor of supporters. King Street (majority fund, 86.4%) blames these two representatives of GACP, minority holders of the initial project (13.6%), their lifestyle, for having spent the money of others and to have dug the deficit.
King Street, focused on austerity but not intended to be part of football, decided to oust the partner by buying back his shares. If he became sole master on board, he would have free rein, without anyone knowing his designs: to survive, to sell?
"King Street is here for a long time," assured Longuépée, determined to keep his position: "I will not resign, I never intended," he said Tuesday, also wanting to cut short persistent rumors of a club sale. The entrepreneur Bruno Fiévet, a Frenchman living in Switzerland, was quoted by the daily newspaper Sud Ouest.
- "Pseudo-authority" -
This first media release of a Bordeaux leader since late August came after the intrusion of twenty or so Ultramarines on the edge of the lawn. She had interrupted the match against Nîmes for 26 minutes.
Reason for this action: the ban decreed by the president delegate to deploy two banners hostile King Street, two representatives were present at the game.
"All this for banners already out for Monaco, not insulting or discriminating and even less homophobic, has responded the spokesman of Ultramarines, Florian Brunet .. All that for Frédéric Longuépée asseye his pseudo-authority. to defend the south turn, he wants his death, he will even say he prefers it closed. "
This will be the case in the next match against Strasbourg on 15 December, as decided by the Disciplinary Committee as a precautionary measure.
It will be another handicap to overcome for Paulo Sousa, the only one to be unanimous in the club. "The more we are united, the stronger we are," said the Portuguese coach.
© 2019 AFP