Dijon Women's Team Battles On-Field Success with Off-Field Neglect
Despite consistently punching above their weight in the French top flight, Dijon's women's football team is fighting for its very existence. The players have publicly criticized what they describe as "confused and careless" management, feeling "unwanted from day one" by the club's leadership. This outcry comes even as the team thrives on the pitch, currently holding fifth place in the league as the season enters its final stages.
Financial Crisis Threatens Professional Status
The club's financial turmoil has hit the women's side hardest, with Dijon facing a potential loss of professional status in the coming months. Since the arrival of new president Pierre-Henri Deballon a year and a half ago, the women's team has been up for sale, but no buyer has emerged. On April 9, the players issued a stark statement denouncing the abandonment of their section, just days after the club announced plans to scale back ambitions due to resource shortages.
Dijon's board has indicated that, without a buyer, no guarantees can be given for the team's competitive level next season, casting doubt on both the professional squad and the women's academy established in 2024. The club is running a deficit of approximately €5 million for the 2025-26 season, with the women's section reportedly accounting for €1.5 million in losses—a figure disputed by players and financial officers, who claim it is closer to €600,000.
Leadership Under Fire for Indifference
President Pierre-Henri Deballon, a Dijon-based entrepreneur and co-founder of ticketing firm Weezevent, has become a focal point of the players' frustration. They accuse him of "absent leadership" and "indifference," arguing that his focus on the men's team—which plays in France's non-professional third division—is driving the women's section toward disappearance. Deballon has acknowledged prioritizing men's football, citing higher revenue potential, and stated that investing equally in both teams is "unrealistic."
Internal sources reveal skepticism about Deballon's commitment, with one noting, "He's a businessman: if it doesn't make money, it goes." The board is now reportedly willing to let the women's section go for free, after negotiations with potential investors, including American firm Sphera Partners, collapsed due to funding issues.
Missed Opportunities and Squad Exodus
Financial mismanagement has exacerbated the crisis. The club missed out on a €200,000 subsidy from the French Football Federation due to administrative issues, and a transfer offer of at least €100,000 for Poland international Nadia Krezyman was reportedly turned down without Deballon's knowledge. Krezyman will now leave on a free transfer, joining a Women's Super League club, with similar scenarios expected for most of the squad except academy product Lina Gay, who is contracted until 2027.
Players learned of the team's potential demise through a website statement, relayed via Switzerland international Meriame Terchoun, which they called "a final insult." In response, they have united to save the section, inspired by the disappearances of other French women's clubs like Bordeaux and Soyaux.
Solidarity from Men's Team Highlights Divide
In a powerful show of support, Dijon's men's team walked onto the pitch wearing T-shirts emblazoned with "support for the women's section" before a recent match against Sochaux. This coordinated action underscored the squad's solidarity, though it was notably omitted from the club's official media coverage. The players' statement concluded with a poignant plea: "To lead is to take responsibility, not to abandon. We play for this club. It should fight for us. We deserve respect."
As Dijon women continue to excel on the field, their fight for survival off it remains a stark reminder of the challenges facing women's football in France, where financial sustainability and institutional support are often in short supply.
