Liverpool Owners Withdraw from Bordeaux PurchaseLiverpool Owners Withdraw from Bordeaux Purchase Liverpool Football Club owner Fenway Sports Group (FSG) has declined to acquire French soccer club Bordeaux. The news comes after Bordeaux, a six-time French title winner, was relegated to the third division and is seeking financial guarantees for the upcoming season. FSG, citing the high costs of Bordeaux’s stadium and the unfavorable economic climate in French football, has ended negotiations. Bordeaux had submitted an appeal against its relegation. French Soccer Crisis Averted, but Funding Woes Continue The French soccer league narrowly avoided a crisis recently when it secured a broadcasting rights deal for the upcoming season. The deal, which reportedly totals 500 million euros over five years, was agreed upon with DAZN and beIN Sports. Despite the broadcast deal, Bordeaux’s financial difficulties persist. The club is exploring alternative solutions to secure funding for the 2024-2025 season. FSG’s Portfolio FSG, co-founded by John Henry, owns several major sports franchises including the Boston Red Sox, RFK Racing in NASCAR, the Pittsburgh Penguins, and Liverpool FC.
BORDEAUX, France — Liverpool FC owner Fenway Sports Group will not buy Bordeaux, the former French soccer giant said Tuesday.
Bordeaux, who have won the French title six times (most recently in 2009), are currently appealing the decision to relegate the club to the third division and are hoping for funding guarantees for next season.
“FC Girondins de Bordeaux and its shareholder have been informed by Fenway Sports Group of its decision not to continue the discussions that have been underway in recent weeks with a view to purchasing the club,” Bordeaux said in a statement. “The reasons for this decision include the high costs of the stadium in the coming years and the general economic climate in French football.”
The French soccer league was on the brink of a major crisis just days ago, before it agreed at the last minute to a deal for domestic broadcasting rights for the upcoming season. According to the newspaper L’Equipe, the league approved “exclusive negotiations” with DAZN and beIN Sports on Sunday for a total of 500 million euros ($545 million) over the next five seasons. It has not yet disclosed details of the deal.
Bordeaux said it will continue to look for alternative solutions to “finalise a financing plan for the 2024-2025 season in view of the appeal hearing.”
Fenway Sports Group, co-founded by John Henry, who also owns Globe, owns the Boston Red Sox, NASCAR’s RFK Racing and the Pittsburgh Penguins, plus Liverpool.
