Bordeaux handed transfer ban after FIFA ruling on Diaz transfer debt

French club Girondins de Bordeaux have been handed a three-window transfer ban by FIFA, the club has confirmed. The punishment, first reported by Sud Ouest and confirmed by RMC Sport, stems from an unpaid fee owed to Spanish club Sporting de Gijón for the 2023 transfer of midfielder Pedro Díaz.

According to reports, FIFA has imposed the registration ban due to Bordeaux's failure to pay the Spanish club a sum of 1.5 million euros. The sanction will prevent the Ligue 2 club from registering any new players for the next three transfer windows. The club's lawyer, Matthieu Barandas, confirmed the development to Sud Ouest, stating the club is in "complete disagreement" with FIFA's legal analysis. Barandas argued that the debt should be included in the club's ongoing financial restructuring plan, a 'safeguard' procedure under French law, which allows for the rescheduling of debts.

The club is now expected to appeal the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). The sanction adds to the considerable off-field turmoil for the historic club, which was relegated to the third-tier Championnat National at the end of the 2021/22 season due to a separate points deduction for financial irregularities. They are currently fighting for promotion back to Ligue 2. The transfer ban presents a significant obstacle to manager Albert Riera's attempts to rebuild the squad for a promotion push next season, should they achieve promotion. The club must now either win an appeal or pay the debt in full to have the ban lifted.