June 12, (THEWILL) – Bordeaux’s aspirations for an immediate comeback to Ligue 1 were extinguished on Monday, as a French league disciplinary committee proclaimed the outcome of their final match of the season, which was abruptly halted after a fan attacked a Rodez player, as a victory for their visiting opponents.
Heading into the match on June 2, Bordeaux found themselves in third place, trailing Metz solely on goal difference, with only the top two teams being promoted. On the other hand, Rodez were engaged in a fierce struggle to stave off relegation.
The contest came to an abrupt halt after 23 minutes when a home supporter invaded the pitch and forcefully pushed Lucas Buades of Rodez, who had just placed his team in the lead. Following this incident, the referee promptly sent both teams to the dressing room, ultimately leading to the match being abandoned.
Bordeaux had initially expressed their desire for a replay of the game. In response to the verdict, the club criticised the ruling as “incomprehensible and disproportionate” and announced their intention to appeal to the French National Olympic and Sports Committee at the earliest opportunity.
The disciplinary panel not only determined Rodez as the winners, but also imposed a deduction of one point on Bordeaux for the upcoming season, in addition to the closure of the south stand of the Matmut Atlantique stadium for at least two matches.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
