As raging wildfires ravage the Bordeaux region across the departments of Gironde and Landes, football has rightly taken a backseat to emergency relief efforts. François Grenet, president of the Ligue de football de la région Nouvelle-Aquitaine, expressed deep solidarity with the firefighters and emergency personnel battling the flames.
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Subscribe Sekarang →According to Grenet, "All our thoughts go out to the residents affected by these fires, the clubs involved, as well as the women and men – firefighters, security forces, rescue services, and volunteers – who are tirelessly mobilized to protect populations and our territory."
Local clubs such as US Lège Cap Ferret in National 2 and USTP Le Temple Le Forge face mounting challenges and are expected to need urgent institutional support. Furthermore, the regional league's headquarters in Le Haillan have been closed, casting doubt on the upcoming opening round of the Coupe de France scheduled for the weekend of August 22.
Based on reports from the French interior ministry, this summer's blazes have scorched nearly 100,000 hectares nationwide, marking a grim historic record for France. Authorities have urged citizens to avoid the Gironde sector entirely to prevent hindering ongoing rescue and security operations, with nearly 170,000 residents having already been evacuated.