It’s been a tough year for Bordeaux fans. The six-time champions are one of the most storied clubs in France, but Les Girondins appear to be heading to Ligue 2 after a miserable 2021-22 campaign.
Bordeaux ultras expressed their frustration with the team during the final home match at Matmut Atlantique against Lorient, briefly interrupting the game with a barrage of toilet paper. The message was clear: Clean up your shit.
Les supporters Ultramarines jettent des centaines de rouleaux de papier toilette sur la pelouse du Matmut Atlantique. Le match est interrompu. #FCGBFCL pic.twitter.com/M4hM7p65h7
— France Bleu Gironde (@Bleu_Gironde) May 14, 2022
The tifos roughly translate to “You are the shame of our 140 years of history” and “89 goals conceded, you are dead.”
The match was halted in the 26th minute by referee Ruddy Buquet and restarted about five minutes later.
Bordeaux conceded a Ligue 1 high 89 goals heading into the weekend, 15 more than the next worse defense. The team’s minus-41 goal difference was also worst in the league. The team’s only clean sheet in Ligue 1 play came in a 0-0 against Lille on April 2. The team’s only other shutout this season was a 10-0 win over a team from the sixth tier in the Coupe de France.
Somewhat surprisingly, Bordeaux’s defense held firm on Saturday, as if to give an immediate response to the fans’ disgust. Despite a late red card to Gideon Mensah, Bordeaux earned a 0-0 draw, which in theory keeps the club’s hopes of survival alive. The point secured safety for Lorient with one match to play.
Bordeaux is currently assured a bottom-three finish but could jump into 18th place to earn a spot in the relegation/promotion playoffs. However, Bordeaux would need to win, hope Metz and St.-Étienne both lose and make up significant goal difference for any hope of survival. Metz and St.-Étienne sit on 31 points, three ahead of Bordeaux, so now the Bordeaux ultras hope it’s Metz and St.-Étienne who shit the bed and give their club a chance at survival.
Elsewhere in Ligue 1 on Saturday, Lionel Messi scored twice in PSG’s 4-0 win over Montpellier. American Tim Weah scored his first Ligue 1 goal of the season to help Lille beat Nice 3-1.
"Timothy Weah applies salt to the wound." pic.twitter.com/YGmNZ94e2C
— Timothy Burke (@bubbaprog) May 14, 2022