French Court Suspends Relegation of Amiens and Toulouse From Ligue 1

French Court Suspends Relegation of Amiens and Toulouse From Ligue 1

By Editor

France's highest court suspended the relegation of Amiens and Toulouse from Ligue 1 but rejected an appeal that could have seen the season restarted.

This decision taken could see a complete restructure in France's top-flight system, as the Ligue 1 could consist of 22 teams next season, with the court ordering the Ligue de Football Professionel (LFP) to reconsider its structure for 2020-21.

Lyon who missed out on European qualification and Amiens and Toulouse, who were the teams relegated had launched an appeal against the decision after the league was ended with 10 games remaining.

“The President considers that the League’s administrative board could not legally rely, in deciding to relegate the lowest two (clubs) of the Ligue 1 ranking, on the fact that the current agreement concluded with the French Football Federation (FFF) provides for a limit of twenty clubs, while this agreement ends on 30 June and a new agreement will have to be signed," a statement from the Council of State said.

“The judge therefore orders the Professional Football League, in conjunction with the competent bodies of the FFF, to re-examine the question of the format of Ligue 1 for the 2020-2021 season , in the light of all the elements relating to the conditions in which this season is likely to take place, and to draw the consequences as to the principle of relegation before 30 June.”

With Lorient and Lens in line for promotion next season, the 2020/21 season might see an increase in teams in Ligue 1.