After FC Rouen who were deducted 5 points in the National and the Girondins de Bordeaux, limited in their wage bill and in their recruitment, US Orléans (Loiret) was sanctioned on January 10 by the DNCG (National Directorate of Management Control), the financial watchdog of French football. Philippe Boutron's club has been demoted to National 2 as a precautionary measure at the end of the current season. This sanction would be cumulative in the event of a sporting demotion.
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Since losing their place in Ligue 2, the Orléans club has never managed to cover its deficit. The DNCG, which also ruled in favour of a recruitment ban and a cap on its wage bill, considered that its operating costs were oversized for a club playing in the National, the equivalent of the third division. In the Centre-Val de Loire region, the Berrichonne de Châteauroux, which has just returned to the French flag, has been given a similar sanction.
A gala match that comes at the right time
The fate of US Orléans is now in the hands of potential buyers. Waiting for a partial or total sale for several weeks, the Orléans club could then provide the financial guarantees requested by the French football authorities. According to the daily newspaper "L'Équipe", former international striker Peguy Luyindula is ready to take over the destiny of the USO. Accompanied by American investors, the native of Gien, a former Lyon and PSG player, is said to have reached an agreement with the current management, which could be concluded by the end of the week.
In the short term, US Orleans will benefit from a breath of fresh air by hosting, Saturday, January 20, PSG on the occasion of the 16th finals of the Coupe de France. For this gala match, which comes at the right time, the price of tickets, which go on sale on Wednesday 17 January, varies between 30 and 100 euros, depending on the category. A great recipe in perspective, which the Ile-de-France club should leave in full to the USO.