Football: Investigation into "attempted fraud" opened after Girondins de Bordeaux reported potential buyer

The Bordeaux public prosecutor's office has opened an investigation for "attempted fraud" and "forgery and use of forgery" following a report made by the Girondins de Bordeaux about a potential buyer, "ici Gironde" (ex-France Bleu) learned on Tuesday 25 February from the city's public prosecutor's office.

In a statement published on Tuesday , the Girondins de Bordeaux club denounced "an attempted fraud" by the company Arkin Capital, which according to the club, "claims to want to invest 205 million euros in the takeover of the club" . However, according to the club, "this company has neither the necessary financial resources nor the credibility to carry out such a project".

The Girondins added that "its managers do not display any recognised expertise in financial management or corporate restructuring" and that "this initiative appears to be a clear attempt to deceive the judicial and administrative authorities in charge of the club's recovery".

The Girondins have initiated a receivership procedure after being administratively relegated from L2 to N2 last summer with a debt estimated at 118 million euros. Still owned by Spanish-Luxembourgish businessman Gerard Lopez, the club is second in its N2 group.